FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Indian Ocean Territories

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total volume of fish, by type, landed from the British Indian Ocean territories was in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The total volume of fish in tonnes in each type of commercial fishery caught in the British Indian Ocean territory in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Season British Indian ocean territory Tonnes 
		
		
			 1997–98 Longline 2,327 
			  Purse seine 2,173 
			  Inshore 79.5 
			 1998–99 Longline 2,427 
			  Purse seine 6,275 
			  Inshore 122.2 
			 1999–2000 Longline 1,939 
			  Purse seine 3,415 
			  Inshore 309.1 
			 2000–01 Longline 1,828 
			  Purse seine 1,064 
			  Inshore 224.8 
			 2001–02 Longline 1,034 
			  Purse seine 5,795 
		
	
	No figures are as yet available for the inshore fishery for 2002. It is not possible to list fish catches by individual species.

EU Commission (Infraction Proceedings)

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what infraction proceedings against Her Majesty's Government are being taken by the EU Commission; and when they commenced.

Denis MacShane: At any given time, the European Commission will have a number of infractions proceedings against any member state. They will be at different stages of the proceedings.
	As of 31 December 2001, the last date for which the Commission has comprehensive public figures, the Commission had 220 infractions cases under examination against the United Kingdom. These cases were opened following a complaint or at the own Commission's initiative. Those cases will have commenced over a variety of years, some even dating back to 1978.
	We are working with the Commission to resolve the outstanding cases.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will name the successor to HM High Commissioner to India.

Mike O'Brien: New High Commissioners to India are publicly announced once approval from the Indian Government is received.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of India; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 626W.

Iraq

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Medact about the effects of a military conflict on civilians in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: None. No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we have always tried to minimise the adverse effects of our actions on the Iraqi people, and we will continue to do so.

Nigeria

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the British Government has made to the Government of Nigeria on the stoning to death of those convicted of adultery.

Bill Rammell: We remain extremely concerned about these sentences. During her visit to Nigeria in September the Minister responsible for Africa, my noble Friend the Baroness Amos, raised with President Obasanjo HMG's concerns about the harsh sentences imposed under the Sharia penal codes, including that of stoning for adultery. She emphasised the strength of feeling against them in the UK and reiterated HMG's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
	The British High Commission in Abuja, together with EU partners, follows all such cases closely and keeps in close contact with local human rights organisations. The High Commission regularly raises our concerns about the sentences with the appropriate authorities.
	The Federal Government has made clear its opposition to the extreme Sharia penalties. It has declared them discriminatory and unconstitutional. Exercise of the Sharia penal code is, however, entirely under the control of the relevant States. The Federal justice system only comes into play if the defendant appeals to the Federal Appeal Courts.

Referendums Protocol

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he defines an intervention in Irish public and political affairs in connection with the referendum on the Nice Treaty, with reference to the requirements of Her Majesty's Ambassador and embassy staff.

Denis MacShane: The duty imposed upon diplomats by Article 41(1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is not to interfere in the internal affairs of the receiving state. This duty is not further defined in international or UK domestic law.

Shakeela Siddique

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by the High Commission in Islamabad to the Pakistani Government after 17 July concerning the rape victim Shakeela Siddique and her treatment at the hands of the authorities.

Mike O'Brien: We take all human rights violations seriously and regularly raise our concerns with the Pakistani authorities. We are working with our EU partners on a comprehensive demarche to the new Pakistani administration on the human rights situation in Pakistan. Experience suggests that concerted action is the most effective way of putting pressure on the Pakistani authorities. We have meanwhile been working with our partners to collate the facts on this and other cases with a view to their inclusion in the demarche. As a result, no formal representations about Ms Siddique have yet been made.

Sustainable Development

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg.

Bill Rammell: The FCO has a long-standing commitment in promoting international sustainable development based on the outcome of the earth summit held in Rio in 1992. The FCO has been very actively involved in the WSSD process and is now working intensively with our international partners to ensure that the impressive range of commitments agreed at the summit are effectively implemented. WSSD outcomes and first views on follow-up will be reflected in the annual report on UK progress on sustainable development for 2002.
	The FCO is focused on achieving high levels of sustainability in its own operations. It has had a programme in place for some time that is designed to respond to the sustainable development challenges confirmed at WSSD. The FCO is therefore committed to meeting the targets being set out in the XFramework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate". This framework is designed to ensure Government operations contribute positively to the UK's sustainable development headline indicators. These targets are being applied to the whole of the FCO's UK estate, although timescales may vary depending upon the location and nature of the site. We have a specific SDA target of achieving efficiencies from the existing energy target of reducing carbon emissions by an ongoing 1 per cent. per annum.
	Our overseas posts are required to apply the framework targets as far as possible in their individual circumstances.
	The FCO raises awareness of operational sustainable development issues using both informal methods eg Intranet discussion group, and formal training.

Turkmenistan

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Russian Government, (b) the Turkish Government and (c) the United States Government, regarding restrictive regulations on registration of religious groups and religious persecution in Turkmenistan;
	(2)  what reports his Department have received regarding harassment and persecution of religious groups in Turkmenistan; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps he has taken to ensure that goods shipped from the UK under UK and EU export control regulations to Turkmenistan (a) have not been and (b) will not be used for internal repression or torture;
	(4)  what representations his Department has made to the Government of Turkmenistan regarding (a) restrictive regulations on the registration of religious groups in the country and (b) harassment of religious groups and repression of religious activity;
	(5)  what UK delegations to Turkmenistan are planned; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  if he will raise the issue of restrictions on religious groups and their harassment and persecution in Turkmenistan at the tenth OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Portugal; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 December 2002
	We are concerned at Turkmen Government actions aimed at restricting the activities of religious groups. We regularly monitor reports from Turkmenistan and meet representatives of religious groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to discuss the situation in the country.
	Senior UK officials have discussed the repression of human rights in central Asia with representatives from other countries (including Russia and Turkey). Together with EU and US colleagues, we use every opportunity to raise cases of religious persecution with the Turkmen Government, and we believe our representations helped to secure the release of the Baptist, Atakov. Most recently, our Ambassador wrote to the Turkmen Foreign Minister on 1 November requesting the release of religious and other prisoners.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Welfare of Animals (Circuses)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has made to owners of circuses on the welfare of animals.

Elliot Morley: The welfare of animals in circuses is an issue that is currently being reviewed in the light of the recent consultation on the proposed Animal Welfare Bill. A number of suggestions have been made concerning the better regulation of performing animals and as part of the series of stakeholder meetings on the Bill, my officials have met representatives of the performing animals industry and organisations concerned with the welfare of performing animals. In the light of these discussions I shall give further thought to what changes need to be made the existing legislation on circus animals.
	Quite separately, the Association of Circus Proprietors has drawn up a code of practice to help circus operators and those responsible for animal welfare enforcement

Agricultural Wages Board

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board has resigned.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board, Professor John Andrews, has indicated his wish not to serve a further term for personal reasons. The Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales have reluctantly accepted Professor Andrew's decision and thanked him for his valuable work during the last three years.
	Professor Andrews has agreed to continue in post until a successor has been appointed. The post has been advertised and it is hoped that an appointment can be made before Easter.

Agricultural Wages Board

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the relevant qualifications are of the two new independent board members of the Agricultural Wages Board.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Independent members of the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales are not required to hold any specific qualifications. However when new members are appointed we do try to ensure that collectively, the independent members have experience of as many areas of expertise relevant to the Board's work as possible. These include EU and UK employment legislation, EU and UK social policy, arbitration and conciliation, human resource management, tribunal work, accountancy and economic issues.
	Gillian Morris is a Professor of Law at Brunel University and since 2000 has been Deputy Chairman of the Central Arbitration Committee. Derek Evans served with ACAS from 1974, becoming acting chief executive in May 2000 until his retirement last year.

Beef Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the decision by the European Commission not to fine France for imposing an illegal ban on British beef and beef products.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts she has made to recover the costs to the British beef industry of the refusal of the French Government to lift its British beef import ban.

Elliot Morley: The UK Government are gratified that France has at last complied with EU law and lifted its ban on British beef. Working through EU institutions was the best way to resolve this difficult issue although I regret the decision by the European Commission not to pursue the case seeking financial penalties against France. Compensation for losses must be sought by those directly affected. The UK Government intervened to support the NFU's current case to rule the ban illegal in the French courts and will support those who wish subsequently to pursue any claims.

Beef Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the decision of the European Commission not to fine the French Government for the illegal imposition of a ban on the sale of British beef in France; what measures she proposes to take to seek compensation from the French Government for the losses incurred by British farmers for the period of the illegal ban; and what other redress she proposes to make to British farmers for the damage suffered by their business for the period of the illegal ban.

Elliot Morley: The Government has received a number of representations on this matter.
	The UK Government is gratified that France has at last complied with EU law and lifted its ban on British beef. Working through EU institutions was the best way to resolve this difficult issue although the UK Government regrets the decision by the European Commission not to pursue the case seeking penalties against France. The UK has supported the Commission throughout and believes that pressing this case would have sent a firm message to member states that no one country can avoid its obligations and responsibilities.
	Compensation for losses must be sought by those directly affected. The UK Government intervened in the European Court of Justice to support the NFU's current case to rule the ban illegal in the French Courts and will support those who wish subsequently to pursue any claims.

Biomass

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set in relation to the creation of energy by the use of biomass.

Michael Meacher: Targets in respect of the Government's support for biomass are generally linked to the potential to contribute to climate change savings and the implications for the rural economy. In the energy crops scheme, part of the England Rural Development Programme, we have funding of £29 million which could see around 20,000 hectares of crops planted. Each hectare of biomass crops yielding the equivalent of 8 tonnes per annum will save 2 tonnes of carbon per annum. Purpose grown energy crops and other biomass will provide feedstocks for the projects developed under the bio-energy capital grants scheme from which we expect electricity generation of up to 120MW in addition to the development of combined heat and power and heat only projects.

Bovine TB

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what vaccines exist for inoculating cattle against TB; what use is made of such vaccines; what advice she gives to farmers about the use of these vaccines; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holdilng answer 2 December 20002
	Developing a bovine TB vaccine is a long-term aim. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISO) has cautioned that such a vaccine is a potential policy option only in the longer term and has set up, this year, a Vaccine Scoping Study. A report is expected to be submitted to Ministers early in 2003 on the feasibility of pursuing a vaccination strategy.
	A test which is able to distinguish vaccinated from infected cattle would be a great asset in the development of a vaccination strategy. Development of such a test is part of our wide-ranging research programme. Once a test has been developed we would need to approach the European Union to seek its acceptance of the new test as showing cattle to be free from the disease. This would require a change to European law.
	Any new vaccine would need to meet the EU criteria of safety, quality and efficacy for the authorisation of veterinary medicinal products.
	The BCG vaccine is being used a starting point for much of the current research. We are looking at how BCG protects animals and what environmental factors affect this. Some of the possible new vaccines under development are mutated or altered forms of BCG.

Combined Heat and Power

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) direct and (b) indirect Government financial support was given to the combined heat and power industry in each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 November 2002
	Estimated direct financial support to the CHP industry, in the form of spend on research, demonstration and development, since 1990 is:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1990–91 0.3 
			 1991–92 0.3 
			 1992–93 0.3 
			 1993–94 0.4 
			 1994–95 0.5 
			 1995–96 0.5 
			 1996–97 0.7 
			 1997–98 1.0 
			 1998–99 1.3 
			 1999–2000 1.9 
			 2000–01 2.5 
			 2001–02 2.8 
		
	
	The 2001–02 figure includes around £0.4 million in development grants from the new Community Energy programme, most of which benefits CHP. In the current financial year, £3.3 million of capital grants from the programme have been approved to date.
	In addition, the Carbon Trust receives around £50 million per annum in total from which it provides direct support for CHP through its ActionEnergy Scheme and for research, development and demonstration of CHP through the Low Carbon Innovation Programme.
	Several indirect measures of support for the CHP industry were also introduced in 2001–02. Of those that can be enumerated, climate change levy exemption on fuel inputs to Good Quality CHP and Good Quality CHP electricity outputs were valued at up to £90 million, while eligibility for Enhanced Capital Allowances is worth in the region of £10 million per annum to the industry. In addition, CHP is one of the measures that operators who are participants in Climate Change Agreements are encouraged to use to meet their targets and therefore qualify for the 80 per cent. reduction in Climate Change Levy.

Dairy Herds (Somerset)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average size of the dairy herd in Somerset was in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The tables show the number of holdings, number of cows in the dairy herd and average number of these dairy cattle on holdings in the county of Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset Unitary Authorities.
	
		County of Somerset
		
			 Year Holdings Dairy cows Average herd size 
		
		
			 1997 1,371 118,572 86.5 
			 1998 1,326 113,221 85.4 
			 1999 1,289 115,126 89.3 
			 2000 1,229 109,498 89.1 
			 2001 1,190 111,379 93.6 
		
	
	
		Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority
		
			 Year Holdings Dairy cows Average herd size 
		
		
			 1997 108 8,680 80.4 
			 1998 108 8,920 82.6 
			 1999 109 9,098 83.5 
			 2000 102 8,546 83.8 
			 2001 104 9,453 90.9 
		
	
	
		North Somerset Unitary Authority
		
			 Year Holdings Dairy cows Average herd size 
		
		
			 1997 135 10,337 76.6 
			 1998 132 9,799 74.2 
			 1999 133 10,165 76.4 
			 2000 113 9,408 83.3 
			 2001 107 9,296 86.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These figures show the old county of Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority and North Somerset Unitary Authority. These now comprise the area covered by Somerset.
	2. Years 2000 and 2001 refer to main and minor holdings. 1997–99 refer to main holdings only.
	3. A dairy cow is defined as a cow or heifer in the dairy herd that has calved.
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

Elephant Ivory

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the EU decision to abstain in respect of the vote at the CITES meeting in Santiago, relating to whether to allow elephant ivory stockpile sales by Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, reflected the position the UK Government advocated in its discussions with EU partners prior to the vote.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 November 2002
	At the meeting of the Environment Council on 17 October member states agreed that the Community was unwilling to agree to a resumption in commercial ivory trade unless it was satisfied, following consultation with all range states, that there would be no resulting increase in illegal killing of elephants and no unfavourable impact on the conservation of elephant populations. The Community would continue to support the cooperation of range states to this effect.
	In Santiago the UK supported the EU view that the initial set of proposals put forward by the range states did not meet these criteria for a resumption in commercial ivory trade. Following a meeting between representatives of range states and the EU, a revised set of proposals was prepared which sought only a one-off sale, subject to strict conditions which must be fulfilled before the sale could go ahead.
	On these, the EU agreed to abstain because it was clear that there was no prospect of achieving an agreed view, even on qualified majority voting, to support or oppose the revised proposal. The UK does not believe that the necessary conditions are currently in place, even for a one-off sale. However, if the strict requirements of the agreement (which include a minimum 18-month delay, strict control of the market, stringent monitoring requirements and a condition that the proceeds of any sale are used solely for the benefit of elephant conservation) are met in full and verified, we believe that this agreement strikes the right balance between meeting the legitimate expectations of the southern African states that they should be able to engage in sustainable utilisation of their natural resources, whilst establishing strict controls to secure the conservation of wider elephant populations, as envisaged in the Environment Council decision.

Energy Efficiency

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much Government financial support has been made available for energy efficiency measures in each year since 1990;
	(2)  how much Government financial support has been made available to (a) the Energy Savings Trust, (b) the Carbon Trust and (c) other organisations concerned with energy efficiency measures in each year since 1990.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 November 2002
	Since 1996 the Government have provided funding to the Energy Saving Trust (Defra funding currently about £24 million) to encourage the sustainable use of energy in the domestic and small business sectors. The Energy Saving Trust also receives funding from the Scottish Executive, Department for Transport and Department of Trade and Industry.
	Government funding for the Carbon Trust by my Department and the Devolved Administrations since April 2001 is a little under £50 million a year funded from Climate Change Levy receipts and the Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme.
	The funding made available by my Department and its predecessors to support and promote efficiency measures in each year since 1990 (including the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust) is of the scale set out:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1990–91 18.4 
			 1991–92 39.3 
			 1992–93 49.4 
			 1993–94 60.3 
			 1994–95 102.7 
			 1995–96 128.5 
			 1996–97 116.0 
			 1997–98 110.5 
			 1998–99 109.0 
			 1999–2000 112.0 
			 2000–01 119 
			 2001–02 approximately (1)253  
		
	
	(1) Subject to final audit
	These figures include the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, support for the Energy Saving Trust (from 1996), Fuel Poverty and for the Carbon Trust (from 1 April 2001). Energy Saving Trust funding for Scotland was devolved from 1 July 1999. Between 1991–99, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme covered the whole of Great Britain. Funding was devolved to Scotland in July 1999 and to Wales in April 2000. The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (now marketed as the Warm Front Team) was launched in England in June 2000.

EU Agriculture Regulations

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many EU regulations have been introduced in each year since 1997 relating to agriculture.

Elliot Morley: A table showing council regulations agreed in the years 1997–02 relating to agriculture is available in the Library of the House. A number of regulations agreed during this time have since expired—these are not included. The list has been trawled from a variety of sources and it is possible that a small number of regulations may have fallen through the net. Regulations have a direct effect in the laws of member states and do not usually require Governments to take action to implement them, the table does not show commission regulations. Details of all regulations adopted can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website.

Insurance (Flooding)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the insurance industry about continuing flood cover.

Elliot Morley: There have been many discussions with the insurance industry, involving myself, my officials and officials from Treasury, culminating in the Association of British Insurers' announcement in September that they would continue provision of flood insurance for the vast majority of homes situated on the floodplain. Discussions continue as we have agreed to review the situation on a regular basis.

Farming

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) land-owning farmers and (b) tenant farmers have left the industry in each of the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: The information for farmers is not available. Figures from the agricultural census on the number of holdings by tenure in England 1991–2000 indicate the following.
	
		
			  Holdings wholly owned/ 50 per cent. or more owned Holdings wholly rented/ 50 per cent. or more rented 
		
		
			 1991 112,383 38,583 
			 1992 113,698 38,020 
			 1993 115,956 37,466 
			 1994 117,086 36,340 
			 1995 111,877 34,235 
			 1996 112,164 33,474 
			 1997 111,594 33,183 
			 1998 112,369 32,724 
			 1999 115,148 32,072 
			 2000 114,841 31,506 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data refers to main holdings only.
	2. It is not possible to show the number of farmers, only the number of holdings.
	Some farmers may have more than one holding.
	3. The figures show only the number of holdings on the census day in June each
	year. They therefore do not reflect gains or losses during the year.
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Census

Horticulture (Employment Statistics)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in horticulture in (a) 1972, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 1995, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001, broken down by (i) contractual and (ii) full time workers.

Elliot Morley: holdling answer 2 December 2002
	Figures on the Labour force on Horticulture Holdings in England is provided as follows It is not possible to provide figures for 1980 and figures on contractual workers.
	
		
			  1990 1995 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Farmers, partners, Directors full- time (including spouses in 2000 and 2001) 8,920 7,474 7,557 7,532 
			 Farmers, partners, directors part- time (including spouses in 2000 and 2001) 3,483 3,198 8,005 8,605 
			 Spouses of farmers partners and directors full and part-time 4,287 3,427 (2) (2) 
			 Salaried managers: 
			 Part-time N/a N/a 1,876 2,190 
			 Full-time N/a N/a 231 338 
			 Total 1,338 1,265 2,107 2,528 
			 Full-time workers 1,5012 12,601 12,404 126,96 
			 Part-time workers 9,259 7,706 6,991 6,440 
			 Casual labour 16,761 14,888 12,938 13,358 
			 Total labour 59,060 50,559 50,002 51,156 
		
	
	(2) Including above.
	Notes:
	(a) A horticultural holding is one where horticulture is the predominant activity.
	(b) Spouses are included only if they are working on the holding.
	(c) Figures for 1990 and 1995 represent main holdings only.
	(d) In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions on the June Agricultural and Horticultural Census in England. It appears that this change in questions may have led to the recording of additional labour not previously included in the returns.
	(e) As a result of a register improvement exercise the figures from June 2000 and June 2001 are not directly comparable.
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Census.

Live Sheep Exports

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on (a) 13 November and (b) 14 November; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (i) during inspection for health certification purposes and (ii) at Dover docks; to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.
	(2)  how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 16 November; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.
	(3)  how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 19 November; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey (a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken; and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			 November 2002 Total animals Where consignments were certified Animals rejected at certification Animals rejected at Dover docks Destination 
		
		
			 13 2,809 England, Scotland and Wales 37 0 France 
			 14 2,330 Wales 33 0 France and Germany 
			 16 3,265 England and Wales 60 0 France 
			 16 405 Wales 6 0 Germany 
			 19 2,889 England, Scotland and Wales 10 0 France 
		
	
	The sheep for the consignments listed were certified within 48 hours prior to export. These consignments went to approved slaughterhouses apart from the sailings on 13 November and 19 November which were fattening animals transported to holdings. The animals which were rejected at certification remained in Great Britain.

Livestock Movements

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the operational effectiveness of the 20 day rule.

Elliot Morley: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the devolved Administrations about a number of animal health matters, including the 20 day standstill.

Livestock Movements

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations she has received on the effects of the 20 day standstill rule in relation to the movement of animals; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Industry organisations, veterinary associations, individual farmers and others have made numerous and varied representations about the effects of the 20 day standstill.

Modification (Public Consultation)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the process which will apply in respect of the public consultation exercise on modification.

Michael Meacher: The Government is sponsoring a public dialogue on genetic modification (GM) technology and this will focus on issues and concerns raised by the public. This consists of three strands:
	A public debate organised independently of the Government, overseen by an independent steering board chaired by Professor Malcolm Grant, chair of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC).
	A review of the science surrounding GM issues, led by Professor David King (the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser) working with Professor Howard Dalton (the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). An expert Science Review Panel, chaired by Professor King, will review and summarise the state of scientific knowledge, concerns and areas of uncertainty over GM science issues
	The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit is carrying out a study into the overall costs and benefits of GM crops, including their effect on conventional and organic farming interests.
	The Strategy Unit study, along with the science review, will feed into thepublic debate. The overall process is now underway and will continue until June next year.

Pesticide Residues

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many food samples tested for pesticide, veterinary and other residues in each of the last 10 years were assessed to contain (a) residue above the maximum residue level for the (i) UK and (ii) EU, (b) a residue not approved for use on UK crops and (c) a residue in organic samples.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The results of analysis for pesticide residues are presented in Table 1. All the samples were assessed for Maximum Residue Level 1 (MRL) exceedances (where MRLs had been set) and UK non-approved uses for the UK samples only. Organic samples are not specifically targeted in the surveys. They are tested as part of the monitoring programme as they are available for consumers to buy. Table 1 therefore includes the number of samples tested for pesticide residues which were found to contain MRL exceedances (which may be either UK, EU or Codex Alimentarius Commission MRLs). It also includes the number of non-approved uses found in UK produce only, and the number of organic samples that were found to contain residues.
	The detailed results of the Pesticide Residues Committee's (PRC's) monitoring (and its predecessor the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (WPPR) (including the commodities tested) have been published and can be viewed on the relevant websites:
	www.pesticides.gov.uk/committees/PRC/prc.htm (PRC results)
	www.pesticides.gov.uk/committees/WPPR/wppr.htm (WPPR results)
	These electronic results go back as far as 1996. Hard copies going back to 1992 are available in the House Library.
	
		Table 1: Samples tested for pesticide residues from 1993–2002 which were found to contain an MRL exceedance, non-approved UK use or organic samples containing residence
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(3) 
		
		
			  
			 Number of samples tested 3,177 3,371 3,742 3,230 3,449 2,648 2,187 2,374 2,304 4,003 
			 Number of samples containing MRL exceedances 28 (0.88%) 46 (1.36%) 23 (0.61%) 32 (0.99%) 27 (0.78%) 15 (0.57%) 29 (1.33%) 38 (1.60%) 25 (1.09%) 29 (0.72%) 
			 Number of UK samples containing non-approved pesticides (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 12 5 8 9 
			 Number of organic samples containing residues (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 7 
		
	
	(3) The PRC plan to test 4,000 samples during 2002, however, the full results are not available
	(4) Data are not available
	The results of analysis for veterinary medicine residues are presented in Table 2. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) of DEFRA runs two surveillance schemes that look for residues of authorised veterinary medicines and banned substances in UK produced and imported foods. Samples of organic produce are included in the surveillance, but the results have not been kept separately. The Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for residues of veterinary medicines are set on an EU-wide basis. Substances not authorised for use will not have an MRL. For such compounds and also for approved substances without an MRL for a particular tissue, an 'Action Level' is applied; this is normally that any confirmed residue is reported.
	All of the results, highlighting any exceedances of MRLs and Action Levels, are published quarterly in the VMD's newsletter. They have been published annually in the VMD's annual report and accounts up to 1994, in a dedicated VMD report on surveillance for veterinary residues between 1995 and 2000, and in the veterinary residues committee's annual report on surveillance for veterinary residues in 2001. Copies of the annual reports are available in the House Library or the VMD's website www.vmd.gov.uk.
	A variety of factors which influence the pattern of results—such as compounds sought or analytical capability—have changed in both programmes over time. Data for different years may, therefore, not be directly comparable. The detailed published reports for the programmes covering these years should be consulted for further information.
	The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility for pesticide residues and veterinary medicines residues. Other food residues are a matter for the Food Standards Agency.
	
		Table 2: Number of samples tested under the VMD's statutory and non-statutory surveillance programmes that were above approved limits for each of the last 10 years
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Total samples (1000s) 48 49 47 50 42 44 40 41 39 40 
			 Veterinary authorised(5) 207 60 180 101 129 78 73 59 80 75 
			 Non-authorised(6) 15 0 69 57 66 34 50 15 32 34 
			 Other(7) 57 108 101 69 101 376 16 44 18 46 
		
	
	(5) This includes where MRLs were exceeded or a residue of an authorised substance has been found where no MRL was set (in this case an 'Action Level' is applied—this is normally that any confirmed residue is reported as an exceedance).
	(6) Non-authorised substances may not have an MRL. Some of the reported cases will be of hormones, where the action level may be exceeded by the natural fluctuations of the hormone within the animal.
	(7) Certain substances, such as PCBs, pesticides, dyes and heavy metals are included in the VMD surveillance programmes, as they are a requirement under Council Directive 96/23EC.
	Note:
	The definition of MRLs for pesticide residues and veterinary residues is not the same; they have different meanings.
	For pesticide residues, MRLs are maximum residue levels. These are intended primarily as a check that pesticides are being used correctly and to assist international trade in treated produce. Maximum residue levels for pesticide residues are not safety limits, and exposure to pesticide residues in excess of a maximum residue level does not necessarily imply a risk to health.
	For veterinary residues, MRLs are maximum residue limits. For veterinary medicines, they are statutory limits—if any tissue from an animal presented for slaughter is found to contain a residue above the maximum residue limit, an offence may have been committed. In Europe, the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP), part of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, sets MRLs. Because of the way veterinary MRLs are set, exposure to a residue over the MRL is in itself not necessarily a cause for concern. The VMD take toxicological advice from the Food Standards Agency where residues over the relevant MRL or actions levels are detected.

Pet Passport Scheme

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will reassess the risks of the reintroduction of rabies via the pet passport scheme.

Elliot Morley: We carried out such an assessment before deciding to extend the pet travel scheme to the USA and Canada. The risk of importing rabies into the UK, from qualifying countries under the pet travel scheme, remains low.

Timber Procurement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the countries from which timber was obtained for the refurbishment of Nobel House; and what steps she has taken to ensure that the timber used was derived from legal and sustainable sources.

Alun Michael: The most recent refurbishment work in Nobel House was to the Ministerial Suite completed in 1997. At that time no records were kept of the source of timber and as the contractor has gone into bankruptcy I am advised that it is not possible to pursue the matter through company records.
	Refurbishment in the adjoining building, 9 Millbank, was completed in September 2002. Limed oak was obtained from a renewable, legal source in Germany for that project.

Waste-Based Fishing Quotas

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she has received representations about the possibility of waste-based fishing quotas.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 28 November 2002
	No but I am pleased to note that the Commission has recently produced an action plan to address the practice of discarding of unwanted fish. One of the many points for discussion is the possibility of reducing discards due to exhausted quotas by establishing by-catch quotas or setting multi-species TACs. We have not yet taken a view on this but look forward to detailed consideration and discussion of this and other novel ideas in the action plan.

TRANSPORT

Airport Security

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the report on airport security by Sir John Wheeler; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend announced on 30 October, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins), Official Report, columns 861–62W, that the Government had considered carefully the findings and recommendations in Sir John Wheeler's report, and was happy to accept in principle all of them. The Department for Transport and the Home Office are now working closely together on implementation, involving as appropriate, the police and other control agencies, and the airport industry.

10-year Plan

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to reply to Mr. Peter Tucker of Burton Sea's letter of 1July regarding liquid petroleum gas.

David Jamieson: I apologise that the hon. Member's constituent has not received a reply to his letter. My Department has received a further copy of the letter, to which officials are replying. I will ensure a copy is sent to the hon. Member for information

Air Routes

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the establishment of public service obligations on air routes serving peripheral or development regions where no subsidy is involved.

David Jamieson: We are prepared to consider the establishment of Public Service Obligations where the criteria laid down in Regulation 2408/92 are met.

Air Transport Consultation Process

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who will (a) analyse and (b) collate the responses to the air transport consultation; and whether they or their employees have previously been employees of airlines or airport operators.

David Jamieson: The analysis of the consultation responses will be carried out by a team comprising civil servants and retained consultants with expertise in a range of relevant areas including aviation, surface access, safety and environmental issues. It will be for officials to prepare and submit advice to Ministers.

Air Transport Consultation Process

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the current timetable for the air transport consultation process for the south east will be affected by the high court ruling on 26 November regarding the omission of Gatwick airport from the air transport consultation document; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given to Parliament on 28 November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

Airports Consultation

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates to be the total costs to public funds of contesting the action brought by Essex county council, Kent county council and Medway cistrict council in respect of the Airports Consultation.

David Jamieson: The Government's own costs and Counsel's fees have not yet been calculated.
	The amount of each claimant's costs will have to be assessed by the Court in due course if it cannot be agreed.

Birmingham International Airport

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will (a) rescind his previous intention to issue a white paper on potential expansion of Birmingham International Airport and (b) substitute a green paper.

David Jamieson: It remains our intention to issue a white paper setting out our policies on both aviation and airports.

Birmingham International Airport

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow (a) the period of consultation to be extended and a second round of consultation to be organized and (b) additional time for (i) preparation and publication of detailed Birmingham International Airport proposal and the documentary evidence to support such a proposal and its concomitant business care and (ii) public scrutiny and response.

David Jamieson: As the Secretary of State has announced in his written Statement of 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 35–36WS and his Oral Statement to the House on 28 November, we have decided to extend the consultation. It will now close four months after the publication of a further consultation document for South East England.

Birmingham International Airport

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what account he will take of representations about the proposed expansion of Birmingham international airport which are not in the form of responses to the official questionnaire; and whether he will receive representations after 30 November;
	(2)  whether he will examine the proposal for expansion of Birmingham international airport put forward by the airport management.

David Jamieson: All written responses to the consultation will be considered. Details of how to respond are set out in the consultation document.

British Midland

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on operations between British Midland from Heathrow to the USA.

David Jamieson: The Bermuda II agreement allows the UK to designate only two airlines to operate from Heathrow to the US, and British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the designated UK airlines. We have put proposals to the US for the full liberalisation of the UK-US aviation market, but these have not been accepted. More recently, we put proposals to the US Government for a partial liberalisation of the market, which would have allowed bmi British Midland to operate a limited number of Heathrow-US services, but the US felt unable to accept them either. We are currently considering whether a further proposal should be made.

Containers

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the development of container handling capacity in the UK;
	(2)  what appraisal his Department has made of the likely demand in container handling facilities in UK ports over the next 25 years;
	(3)  what appraisal his Department has made of the need for hub port development in the UK;
	(4)  what recent representations he has received on the development of hub ports in the UK.

David Jamieson: A paper, XRecent Developments at UK Container Ports" was published by the Department in July 2001. Copies of this paper were placed in the Library in response to a question from the hon. Member for Reading West on 7 November 2001, Official Report, columns 296–97W. This paper was based on extensive consultation with port and shipping interests. Representations received in relation to the development of hub ports have related predominantly to specific schemes and have been made as part of the formal planning process in which the schemes are at various stages. A few have related to other possible projects on which no formal proposals have been submitted.

Croxley Rail Link

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions on the Croxley rail link project.

David Jamieson: The scheme is currently being considered in our preparations for this year's local transport settlement; an announcement on which will be made shortly.

Cycle Facilities (Railway Stations)

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of railway stations in England with cycle-friendly facilities; how many have (a) gulleys for taking bikes up stairs and (b) cycle parks; and what measures he has taken to encourage cycle-friendly facilities at railway stations.

David Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. The Strategic Rail Authority encourages all train operators to provide appropriate facilities at stations for the safe and secure storage of cycles.

Detrunked Roads Programme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what method the detrunked roads programme will be incorporated into the local government finance system; and when he expects the integration programme to be (a) started and (b) completed.

David Jamieson: Transfers of revenue to local authorities in respect of detrunked roads are provided by special grant under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The timing and method of the integration of the Special Grant into Formula Spending Shares (previously Standard Spending Assessments) is currently under consideration.

Government Sponsorship

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his sponsorship of (a) the New Government Building,Leeds and (b) the Highway Agency's Stonehenge improvement entails.

David Jamieson: The new Government Building, Leeds and the Highways Agency's Stonehenge improvement are two Departmental projects selected by the former DTLR for inclusion in the Better Public Building Initiative.
	The Highways Agency is the largest and the leading partner in a project to co-locate five departments in a single new office at Leeds. The design of the new office is being developed with input from the Commission for Architecture in the Built Environment (CABE).
	The project is a Private Finance Initiative scheme and is at a stage where five outline proposals have been submitted by developers. It aims to provide a combination of a pleasant working environment for staff with high quality exterior design which enhances the local environment and meets government targets on sustainability.
	The Highways Agency's A303 Stonehenge Improvement is a central component of the Stonehenge Project, which will help to restore the setting of the scheduled monument within the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. The Project brings together a number of government and non-government agencies and other organisations in partnership. Detailed development work is currently being undertaken by the Agency.
	The principal feature of the improvement will be a tunnel past the Stones. High quality design will be essential for all parts of the scheme that have an impact on the World Heritage Site. CABE is already involved in assessing the detail of the proposals.

Grants

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the grants funded by his Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; and if he will make a statement as to (a) the total of such funding in the last financial year, (b) the total number of awards and (c) their administrative costs.

David Jamieson: Total funding and number of awards for grants funded by my Department, for which individual members of the public and organisations may have applied in the last financial year, are set out in the table. The administration of grant programmes is carried out by a number of different units within the Department to which a range of staff make a contribution. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of those costs centrally.
	
		
			 Grants Total funding in 2001–02 (£000) Awards in 2001–02 
		
		
			 Bus Service Operator's Grant 304.300 1,800 
			 Rail Freight Grant 32.800 23 
			 Track Access Grant 24.200 21 
			 Powershift 3.998 4,491 
			 CleanUp 3.455 2,424 
			 CleanUp Haulage 1.255 341 
			 Road Safety Grants 0.334 9 
			 Mobility Grants 0.620 12 
			 Water Freight Grant 16.981 13

HGV Licences

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the valid heavy goods vehicle operator licences in effect in (a) Wychavon, (b) Cotswold, and (c) Stratford-upon-Avon district council areas.

David Jamieson: The Traffic Area Network electronic database of HGV and PSV operator licences can be accessed through their website on www.tan.gov.uk. Data can be extracted by post-code area, but not by local authority district, and by operator name. There are more than 100 operators in the areas.

HGV Licences

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to require the Transport Commissioners to notify local councils of applications for heavy goods vehicle operator licenses within their council area;
	(2)  if he will list those bodies and individuals the Traffic Commissioners are obliged to consult before issuing operators licences; and what plans he has to add bodies and individuals to this list;
	(3)  why the responsibility to advertise an application for a heavy goods vehicle operator licence rests with the applicant.

David Jamieson: An applicant for a heavy goods vehicle operating licence must advertise the details of the application in a local newspaper circulating in the locality of a proposed operating centre and send a copy of the advertisement to the Traffic Commissioner. A Traffic Commissioner must satisfy himself that this meets the requirements. If not, he must refuse the application. Independent verification by the Traffic Commissioner provides a better safeguard for local residents than if he were responsible for advertising applications.
	The Traffic Commissioner has the responsibility for publishing applications received, other than minor variations, and for notifying those bodies with a statutory right to object to the grant of a licence. The bodies a Traffic Commissioner is obliged to consult are: prescribed trade unions; a chief officer of police; a local authority; a planning authority. There are no plans to add to this list. Local residents affected may make representations.

HGV Licences

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the need for the Traffic Commissioners to take account of environmental issues when granting operator licences for the use of heavy goods vehicles;
	(2)  what account the Transport Commissioners are required to take of local road safety congestion and the amenity of local committees when granting a heavy goods vehicle operator licence;
	(3)  what steps the Traffic Commissioners take to ensure an applicant for a heavy goods vehicle operator licence is a bona fide business and otherwise suitably qualified individual;
	(4)  if he will make it his policy to require the Transport Commissioners to satisfy themselves that an appropriate planning permission exists on a site for which an application for a heavy goods vehicle operator licence has been made before granting any such licence;
	(5)  for what reason the independent Traffic Commissioners are limited in what they may consider when deciding an operator's licence application;
	(6)  what account the Traffic Commissioners take of practicability of (a) gaining access to and (b) manoeuvring vehicles on a site before granting an operator licence for heavy goods vehicles;
	(7)  what steps the Traffic Commissioners take to ensure that a site on which a heavy goods vehicle operator licence is applied for has the appropriate planning permission.

David Jamieson: The Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 determines the matters which a Traffic Commissioner takes into account in granting an application for a goods vehicle operating licence. These relate to the suitability of:
	(a) a site for use as an operating centre for heavy goods vehicles, including parking; safety of access to a public road; and impact on the local environment; and
	(b) an operator in terms of good repute; financial standing; and professional competence.
	Traffic Commissioners are responsible for deciding whether the criteria have been met. It follows that Traffic Commissioners do not have the power to take into account other matters such as the absence of planning permission for an operating centre or its impact on road congestion. These are the responsibility of the local planning authority and the local highway authority respectively.

Highways Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers a Traffic Manager will have; what plans he has to change the role of the Highways Agency; and what discussions he has had with the insurance industry on the implications of removing vehicles soon after an accident.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have recently completed a comprehensive review of police and Agency roles for network operation. The review investigated how greater co-operation could improve the effective operation of the network and the way in which incidents and the effects of incidents could be jointly managed.
	Implementation will be carefully managed and carried out in partnership with the police. There will be detailed consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Illegal Parking

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will introduce adoptive powers to make it an offence to allow vehicles to be parked on verges and footpaths;
	(2)  if he will bring into force section 19a of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it an offence for motor vehicles, other than heavy commercial vehicles, to park on verges and footways or the land between carriageways on any urban road.

David Jamieson: Section 19A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 was repealed by the Road Traffic Act 1991.
	We are not in favour of a national ban on pavement parking for the reasons given in our response to recommendation [e viii] of the Walking in Towns and Cities report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee (Cm 5277). Parking on pavements and verges is a problem that should be tackled at local level using traffic regulation orders.

Jet Skis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from (a) individuals, (b) manufacturers and (c) user groups about the need to regulate the use of jet-skis and make them subject to registration and insurance; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My Department receives communications from time to time from individuals seeking advice. We continue to take the view that education and training are preferable to compulsory registration. My Department also liaises with manufacturers and user groups on a regular basis to produce safety guidelines and advice to encourage training and better awareness of the users' responsibilities.
	Additionally my Department supports a national system, fully sponsored by manufacturers, users, and local authorities, covering voluntary training, insurance and registration.

Light Dues

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on how money received as light dues may be spent.

David Jamieson: The provisions of section 211(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 define how monies paid into the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) are spent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has responsibility for the management of the fund and sanctions all expenditure by the General Lighthouse Authorities.

Modes of Travel

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger miles were travelled in journeys by (a) train, (b) car, (c) bus, (d) aeroplane and (e) ship in the last year for which information is available.

David Jamieson: The information is as follows:
	
		Passenger kilometres by mode: Great Britain 2001
		
			 Mode of transport billion 
		
		
			 Rail 47 
			 Car, vans and taxis 624 
			 Bus and coach 46 
			 Air 8 
			 Water 0.5 
			 All modes (8)734 
		
	
	(8) Includes 9 billion passenger kilometres by pedal cycle or motor cycle.

Modes of Travel

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent in support of (a) road, (b) rail, (c) air and (d) sea transport in the last year for which information is available.

David Jamieson: For 2001–02, the last year for which full information is available, total public expenditure was: £1,639 million on national roads; £2,080 million on railways; £92 million on aviation; and £9 million on maritime programmes.
	In addition, local authorities are responsible for local roads and highways. In 1999–2000, the last year for which information on actual spending is available, gross revenue spending by English local authorities on highways was £1,994 million, with capital spending on roads of £930 million.

Motorway Congestion

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce congestion on motorways; and what research he has conducted into the change in the speed of motorway traffic since 1998.

David Jamieson: XTransport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" sets out our vision for a fairer and more effective transport system, while the Highways Agency's XStrategic Roads 2010" sets out the framework for delivering the strategic road network elements of the plan, which includes reducing congestion across the strategic motorway and trunk road network. This needs to be considered in the context of measures to improve other forms of transport, which will also contribute to delivery of the congestion target.
	Pilot studies to actively manage the traffic and make better use of the existing road space will be undertaken, and where necessary, programmes of works such as the Targeted Programme of Improvements and the recently announced 92 priority junction schemes will be delivered. Both will provide increased capacity and improve conditions on the network.
	To help deliver the reduction in congestion, the Highways Agency is also developing its role as a traffic manager to help motorists deal with congestion on motorways and other strategic routes, and has appointed a director whose prime purpose is to take this role forward. A number of initiatives are being pursued. These include the Traffic Control Centre project that will provide advice to motorists about travel conditions on the trunk road network, allowing them to plan their journeys more effectively to avoid congestion. In conjunction with the Police and other emergency services, the Agency is improving the way it deals with accidents and incidents on the network so that they are dealt with more effectively, reducing the time roads are disrupted to minimise congestion.
	The Department for Transport has monitored trunk road and motorway speeds in 1995, 1998 and 2001. Surveys show that while, in general, overall speeds have fallen since 1995, average speeds on motorways were 2.5 mph faster in 2001 in the morning peak period when compared to the equivalent speeds in the 1998 survey. In the evening peak, they were 3.3 mph faster.

Motorways

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the cost per mile of using a noise absorbing surface on motorways.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Mathews to write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Ginny Clarke to Mr. Prentice, dated 3 December 2002
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the cost per mile of using a noise—absorbing surface on motoways. I am replying in the absence of Tim Mathews the Chief Executive who is currently away on Highways Agency business.
	The cost varies considerably depending on site specific issues such as:
	the overall size of the contract,
	wheather the existing surface is to be planed out and to what depth, or overlaid,
	the thickness of the material to be laid and the number of layers,
	whether the work is to be carried out during the day or at night, re-opening the carriageway during the day,
	the complexity and duration of the traffic management necessary and,
	whether it is necessary to resurface the hard shoulders or carry out adjustments to other road items.
	The cost per mile for surfacing laid on both carriageways of a dual three—lane motorway would be expected to range between £200,000 and £450,000. These costs are for the quieter surfacings currently being used on the trunk road network in line with Government policy. They do not include the cost of porous asphalt for which no recent prices are available. Based on past experience however, this would be considerably more expensive; we estimate perhaps £600,000 to £700,000 per mile.
	If it would be helpful, John Williams in our pavement engineering team, would be pleased to discuss the quieter surfacings in current use on the trunk road network with you. His telephone number is 01234 796116.

Multi-Modal Studies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the costs so far have been of the Multi-Modal Studies; and what the total estimated cost is.

David Jamieson: Expenditure to 31 October 2002 on the Multi-Modal Studies has been approximately £27 million (excluding VAT). The estimated cost of the studies to completion of the programme is £32 million (excluding VAT).

New Trains (Glasgow-Euston)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when new trains will be introduced on the Glasgow-Preston-London Euston route.

David Jamieson: A phased introduction of new Pendolino trains will begin early in 2003, initially between London and Manchester. Introduction of trains north of Crewe is dependent upon fleet delivery and ongoing route clearance and upgrade works.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

David Jamieson: The total expenditure on official travel for the predecessor Department, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2001–02 was £6,623,138.81. This total includes the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Expenditure on official travel for its agencies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published, on an annual basis, the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1374–75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel by officials in my Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code (available on the net at: http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/csmc.rtf

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

David Jamieson: The budget for travel and subsistence is included in the high level allocation to Divisional Managers for administration costs. Divisional Managers decide on the allocation to each area of costs.

Oil Tankers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what help the UK Government have made available to (a) the Spanish and (b) the Portuguese authorities to help tackle the environmental repercussions of the Prestige oil disaster.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) received a request on 13 November from the Spanish embassy via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for offers of assistance for an at-sea clean-up operation, following an oil spill from M/V Prestige.
	An offer of immediate salvage and counter pollution advice and equipment was passed to the Spanish embassy. This request was repeated on 14 November by the European Commission's Civil Protection and Environmental Accidents Unit, which was assessing availability of equipment for collective help to Spain.
	On 14 November the MCA offered Spain a range of equipment and expertise, outlining the elements of the UK's own oil spill response capability that could be utilised in this incident. This offer was enhanced on the 19th with information about an oil spill recovery vessel—the Sefton Supporter owned by Gulf Offshore that operates in the Irish Sea.
	On 21 November the MCA received a further request from the European Commission's Civil Protection Co-operation Mechanism, on behalf of Spain and Portugal, for information on the availability, costs/hire charges and mobilisation time of specialised equipment for the recovery of heavy oil. On 24 November MCA's offer of assistance was accepted and, after discussion with the Spanish Authorities, three Artic lorries with specialist equipment and one flat bed lorry equipped with a 10ft crane was sent by ferry, due to arrive in La Coruna 28 November. The MCA are also sending five trained personnel to operate and help deploy this equipment.
	Additionally an aerial surveillance capability was requested by Spain on 27 November and this is being deployed by 3 December.
	The Spanish Authorities also contacted Gulf Offshore directly requesting the services of the Sefton Supporter, which arrived in La Coruna on 27 November.Defra's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has also contacted the scientists working on impact assessment and offered any technical assistance they may find helpful.

Oil Tankers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will press the European Commission to bring forward the date on which the use of EU waters by single hull oil tankers will be forbidden.

David Jamieson: The recent amendment to the MARPOL Convention agreed in the International Maritime Organization, and implemented within the EU by regulation No. 417/2002, has just come into effect. Single hull tankers having no additional protection, such as the Prestige, must be phased out in order of age between 2003 and 2007. Single hull tankers fitted with partial protection must be phased out in order of age between 2003 and 2015. Each category of single hull tanker will have to satisfy an additional requirement for a rigorous condition assessment survey to be able to operate after 2005 and 2010 respectively. The use of waters of EU member states is regulated in accordance with compliance with the United Conventions on the Law of the Sea.

Oil Tankers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will press the EU to set a maximum size for oil tankers allowed in EU waters.

David Jamieson: There is no evidence that reducing the size of oil tankers would lead to an overall improvement in safety. The implication of using smaller tankers is that more voyages would be needed to carry the same volume of oil and related cargoes.

Public Service Obligation

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) EU transport ministers, (b) Commission officials and (c) the Council of Ministers, on the common application of public service obligations across Europe.

David Jamieson: We have already indicated to the Commission and other member states in Council working groups on the Commission's proposals for amending Regulation 95/93 that we believe that there is a case for amending Regulation 2408/92 on public service obligations.

Rail Network

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new rail passenger line, exluding refurbishment of existing lines, have been opened in each year since 1972; and how many miles have been closed in each of the corresponding years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 20 November 2002
	This information is not held in the form requested. The route kms open for traffic each year are as follows:
	
		(km) 
		
			 Year Route open for traffic  
		
		
			 1972–73 18,417 
			 1973–74 18,227 
			 1974–75 18,168 
			 1975–76 18,118 
			 1976–77 18,007 
			 1977–78 17,973 
			 1978–79 17,901 
			 1979–80 17,735 
			 1980–81 17,645 
			 1981–82 17,431 
			 1982–83 17,229 
			 1983–84 16,964 
			 1984–85 16,816 
			 1985–86 16,752 
			 1986–87 16,670 
			 1987–88 16,633 
			 1988–89 16,599 
			 1989–90 16,587 
			 1990–91 16,584 
			 1991–92 16,558 
			 1992–93 16,528 
			 1993–94 16,536 
			 1994–95 16,542 
			 1995–96 16,666 
			 1996–97 16,666 
			 1997–98 16,656 
			 1998–99 16,659 
			 1999–2000 16,649 
			 2000–01 16,652 
			 2001–02 16,652

Road Accidents (A12)

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) injury and (b) non-injury road accidents have been reported since 1990 on the A12 road in Essex between Witham and Marks Tey.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to reply to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Alan Hurst, dated 3 December 2002
	David Jamieson has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many injury and non-injury road accidents have been reported since 1990 on the A12 between Witham and Marks Tey.
	There have been 291 injury accidents since 1994 between Lynfields Interchange at the southern end of the Witham Bypass and the A12/A120 Marks Tey Interchange. Of these, 10 were fatal, 57 were serious and 224 were slight injuries. Statistics for non-injury accidents are not available as there is no requirement to report this type of accident.
	I regret that records for injury accidents prior to 1994 are not readily accessible and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Road Accidents (Insurer Liability)

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government will oppose proposed measures by the EU to make motorists' insurers liable, without regard to fault, in all cases of accidents involving motorists and cyclists.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 6W. We will decide our position when the proposal becomes clearer.

Road Fund Licences

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of individuals failing to pay road fund licences in the UK in the last year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The national roadside survey of vehicle excise duty evasion which took place in June 1999 showed the level of evasion as 3.9 per cent. of revenue due which equated to £191 million in 2001–2002. This was offset by £110 million recovered through enforcement activities.

Road Traffic Fatalities

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic fatalities there were in Lancashire in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: Figures for fatalities in Lancashire in the years 1996, 1997 and 2001 are as shown:
	
		
			 Year Fatalities 
		
		
			 1996 87 
			 1997 79 
			 2001 76

Roadworks

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for roadworks were received by each English local authority from utility companies in each year from 1995–96 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: holding answer 27 November 2002
	This information is not held centrally. However streetworks are a serious growing problem and I believe that the current legislation needs to be improved. My Department is currently considering the options.

Secretary of State Representative

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken in pursuit of the recommendations to appoint a Secretary of State Representative, made in Lord Donaldson's Report of March 1999 on Command and Control, a Review of Salvage and Intervention.

David Jamieson: The appointment was made on 4 October 1999.

Speed Cameras

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed site speed cameras are in operation.

David Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Speed Limits

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to local authorities regarding suitable speed limits on roads adjoining school premises.

David Jamieson: Guidance to local authorities on the setting of local speed limits exists in the form of Circular Roads 1/93. Additionally, legislation and guidance exists that allows local authorities to introduce 20 mph zones and 20 mph speed limits. Traffic calmed 20 mph zones have been particularly successful in urban areas, including around schools as they ensure compliance with the speed limit thereby substantially reducing the risk of accidents.

Strategic Rail Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) the staffing and (b) the overall budget of the SRA has changed in each year since its inception.

David Jamieson: For staffing, I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 500W.
	The budget for 2001–02 at the start of the year was £1,280,619,000. During the financial year, the budget increased to £1,871,992,000. The budget for 2002–03 at the start of the year was £2,166,535,000. That total was recently increased to £2,351,535,000. These increases reflect increases in the scope of SRA expenditure.

Sustainability Strategy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

David Jamieson: My Department is committed to the objectives set out in the Government's overall strategy for sustainable development, XA Better Quality of Life" (Cm 4345), published in May 1999.
	Our policies, including those set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper (Cm 3950) of July 1998; the associated policy statements, such as the Sustainable Distribution Strategy of March 1999; the 10 Year Plan for Transport published in July 2000, which sets out an investment programme to 2010; and the on-going Powering Future Vehicles initiative; will help to deliver not only the UK's sustainable transport priorities, but also the transport outcomes of the World Summit for Sustainable Development.
	WSSD outcomes and first views on follow-up will be reflected in the Government's annual report on UK progress on sustainable development for 2002.

Traffic Accidents (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic accidents resulted in a fatality in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: Figures for road fatalities in Lancashire for 2001 and the five preceding years are shown in the table.
	The first column shows the number of accidents in which fatalities occurred, and the second column gives the total number of people killed as a result of those accidents.
	
		
			  Number of fatal accidents Number of fatal casualties 
		
		
			 1996 81 87 
			 1997 75 79 
			 1998 81 84 
			 1999 70 79 
			 2000 60 65 
			 2001 74 76

Transport 10-year Plan

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure is allocated under the Strategic Rail Authority's 10-year plan for (a) multi-modal studies and (b) projects relating to access to airports; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan does not break down proposed expenditure on this basis. Proposals for funding of all rail schemes are assessed and taken forward according to their affordability and value for money.

Trinitas Services Ltd.

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the proposal on the level of interest rate to be charged on the loan to Trinitas Services Ltd. after the third year of the loan being drawn down was referred to the Treasury for instructions on the terms to be applied to the loan; and, how this transaction is governed by Government fiscal policy;
	(2)  whether the decision to provide an interest-free loan from the General Lighthouse Fund to Trinitas Services Ltd. was put to the (a) Lights Finance Committee and (b) Lights Advisory Committee for approval.

David Jamieson: As the General Lighthouse Fund provided the loan to Trinitas Services Ltd., the Treasury was not consulted on the terms of the loan. No public funding was included.
	The loan was submitted to the Lights Advisory Committee for approval but not to the Lights Finance Committee.

Unregistered Vehicles

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what power (a) the Mayor of London, (b) the Greater London Authority and (c) other local authorities have to pick up and crush unregistered vehicles; what restrictions there are upon them taking that action; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We are not aware of a particular problem (e.g. of abandonment) in respect of the very small number of unregistered vehicles in the UK. However, we are aware of the considerable problem of unlicensed vehicles.
	Local authorities have various powers to deal with abandoned vehicles. Among these will be a number that are also unlicensed and in determining whether a vehicle is abandoned, the absence of a tax disc may be a significant, but not the only factor. Section 4 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 Act provides that a local authority may destroy a vehicle immediately which is in their custody and on which no current vehicle excise licence (tax disc) was displayed at the time of its removal.
	Although local authorities have however, no general power to deal with unlicensed vehicles as such, powers now exist for the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to devolve its powers of enforcement in dealing with unlicensed vehicles to local authorities wishing to use them. To date six local authorities have been given devolved powers to clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles on behalf of the Secretary of State. These are the London Boroughs of Croydon, Lewisham, Newham and Wandsworth, together with Hastings and Southend-on-Sea borough councils.
	These councils seek authorisation from DVLA to clamp any unlicensed vehicles. If the vehicle is not claimed after 24 hours it is removed to a secure vehicle compound. The vehicles are kept in the compound for a minimum of 7 days to allow DVLA to write to the registered keeper informing them of the whereabouts of the vehicle and what steps they will need to take to reclaim the vehicle. If the vehicle still remains unclaimed, DVLA will give authorisation for the vehicle to be disposed of, this is usually by crushing.

West Coast Main Line

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains (a) arrive at and (b) depart from Preston station each day.

David Jamieson: The information is contained in the National Rail Timetable.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council pursuant to his reply, 19 November 2002, Official Report, column 44W, on pre-legislative scrutiny, when decisions will be made on the form of scrutiny to which a number of bills will be subject.

Robin Cook: A decision will be made on the form of scrutiny to which a draft bill will be subject once the timetable for its publication is firmly established.

TREASURY

Manufacturing Exports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the amount of exports from the manufacturing sector in the North West in the last three years.

John Healey: The estimates for manufacturing exports from companies in the North West are shown as follows, for 1999–2001 and 2002 year to date, together with corresponding estimates for the UK as a whole.
	Manufacturing exports from the North West have averaged 1.69 billion per year over the period 1999–2001. This compares to £21.9 billion per year average for UK manufacturing exports (North West being 7.7 per cent. of the UK figure).
	
		For 2002 year to date, the North West figure of £1.23 billion is 7.4 per cent. of the UK figure of £16.6 billion (January to September)
		
			 Year Exports from North West Exports from UK 
		
		
			 1999 1.67 20.3 
			 2000 1.71 22.6 
			 2001 1.69 22.8 
			 2002(9) 1.23 16.6 
		
	
	(9) Year to date.

Ordnance Exports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arms, munitions, and military equipment were exported for sale from Great Britain to the Government of Israel in 2001–02; and what the total value of such exports was.

John Healey: Information in the format requested would enable individual businesses to be identified and cannot be disclosed. Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (third party commercial confidences) applies. However, information on the value of strategic exports to Israel for 2001 can be found in Appendix C of the Strategic Export Controls Annual Report, which is available in the Library.

XThe Threat to Enterprise Britain"

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in response to the report of the Quoted Companies Alliance, The Threat to Enterprise Britain.

Ruth Kelly: The Government recognise the economic contribution of smaller quoted companies (SQCs) and continueto monitor developments in all capital markets, including those serving the SQC sector. For example, the Government are implementing the recommendations of the Myners review of institutional investment, to reduce impediments to rational, well-informed and undistorted investment decisions.

Barristers' Fees (VAT Liability)

Andrew Dismore: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the scheme which allows VAT liability on barristers' fees only to become due to be paid by the barrister after those fees are paid and received by the barrister and not at the time of provision of the services of the barrister or delivery of the fee note to the barrister's customer.

John Healey: VAT law governing the time at which VAT is to be accounted for (the Xtax point") provides a number of special tax point regimes that are tailored to meet the needs of specific categories of supply. There are no current plans to review this aspect of the law as it applies to the VAT liability on barristers' fees.

Carbon Trust

Sue Doughty: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total annual budget of the Carbon Trust Low Innovations programme is in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Carbon Trust was launched in April 2001 to support UK business and the public sector in reducing their Carbon emissions while maintaining competitiveness. The Carbon Trust is a private non-profit company that receives funding of around £ 50 million per annum from Defra and the Devolved Administrations. About two-thirds of its current funding comes from recycled receipts from the Climate Change Levy. As a private company the management of its programmes, including its Low Carbon Innovation Programme, and decisions on the allocation of funding, are a matter for the Carbon Trust Board.

Carbon Trust

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will recycle a rising percentage of receipts from the Climate Change Levy directly into the Carbon Trust rather than through National Insurance Payments.

John Healey: Government have recycled revenue from the Climate Change Levy back to business through the 0.3 per cent. National Insurance contributions cut, Enhanced Capital Allowances for investments in energy-saving technologies, and funding for renewables and energy efficiency, principally through the Carbon Trust. The Government set out their spending plans in relation to energy efficiency in Spending Review 2002.

CITES

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officials have (a) had training in respect of and (b) been allocated to the detection of illegal imports of (i) bushmeat and (ii) species and material listed under CITES.

John Healey: holding answer 20 November 2002
	As part of their normal frontier enforcement activity, customs detection staff undertake work to detect imports which are illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They are supported by a specialist team. Customs detection staff also support the lead agencies (local and port health authorities and Defra) in detecting illegal bushmeat imports not covered by CITES restrictions.
	Training in CITES-related issues is part of the standard training of the approximately 3,800 customs detection staff and others whose work involves CITES issues.
	With customs currently not having the lead role in bushmeat detection no specific training is currently provided to customs officials on this.
	A recent Cabinet Office study has recommended a future transfer of responsibility to customs for detection of smuggled imports of animals, fish, plants and their products, and foodstuffs (including meat). Work on arrangements to effect this transfer has begun.

Climate Change Levy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what evaluation he has carried out into the operation of the climate change levy, with specific reference to (a) manufacturing, (b) the service sector and (c) small and medium sized enterprises;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the financial cost to the British manufacturing industry of the climate change levy.

John Healey: All industries face the same general challenges and opportunities from the climate change levy.
	All revenue from the levy is recycled back to business through reductions to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and support for energy efficiency. While the levy package is broadly revenue neutral to business as a whole, the effects on any specific sector will depend on a number of factors, including:
	the future energy consumption of firms in the sector and the use they make of levy funded energy efficiency support;
	employment levels in those sectors and the benefits received from the levy funded NICs cuts;
	what use firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy-exempt renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power; and
	use made of the 80 per cent. discount where this is available via voluntary agreements with energy-intensive sectors.

Climate Change Levy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current status of discounts allowable under the climate change levy.

John Healey: Sectors of industry which are covered by the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations Part A are eligible for an 80 per cent. discount in the rate of levy, provided they enter into an agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to meet energy efficiency targets. The Government have also given a five year 50 per cent. discount to protect the competitiveness of horticulture.

Climate Change Levy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the CBI on the issue of the climate change levy.

John Healey: As part of the normal process of contact with business, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Treasury Ministers have met a variety of businesses and business organisations and have heard a range of representations. As the Chancellor said in his answer of 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–115W, inline with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of the meetings they routinely have with a wide range of organisations.

Climate Change Levy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he is giving to manufacturers who wish to reduce the impact of the climate change levy by introducing combined heat and power.

John Healey: Currently, all supplies of taxable commodities for use in producing any outputs from good quality combined heat and power (GQCHP) are exempt from the levy. Also, all GQCHP electricity supplies sold direct to customers are free from the levy.
	In Budget 2002, the Government announced that exemption would be extended to include all supplies of electricity from GQCHP. The exemption will be introduced after it has received state aid clearance from the European Commission.

Energy Saving Material (VAT)

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent changes to his policy on VAT on energy saving material with special reference to the impact of the judgment in Case 416/85 in the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

John Healey: On 1 June 2002 the Government extended the scope of the 5 per cent. reduced rate on energy-saving materials to the grant-funded installation of factory-insulated hot water tanks, micro-combined heat and power units, and renewable energy heating systems, in the homes of less well-off people. Case 416/85 in the Court of Justice of the European Communities examined the scope of the UK's zero rates and has no bearing on this change.

European Court of Auditors

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government have taken to mark the 25th Anniversary of the European Court of Auditors.

Ruth Kelly: The Government value the work of the European Court of Auditors highly and will today have an opportunity to offer congratulations at the ECOFIN Council, when the President of the Court presents its 25th Annual Report.

Lloyds

Angela Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the European Commission in respect of the audit system in place at Lloyds of London between 1978 to 1988;
	(2)  what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the European Commission in respect of its supervision of Lloyds between 1978 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Commission sent a formal letter to the Government on 21 December 2001, raising questions about the implementation of obligations imposed on the UK by EC legislation in respect of the Lloyd's insurance market. The Government replied in full on 30 April 2002. The Commission are still considering this reply. The Government is firmly convinced that we have fulfilled our obligations under Community Law. Correspondence of this sort between the Commission and Member States is regarded as confidential. These arrangements in practice enable cases to be taken forward in the most expeditious manner.

Motor Vehicle Seizures

Barbara Follett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 64W, when information relating to vehicle seizures by Customs and Excise in 2001–02 will be published.

John Healey: Information relating to vehicle seizures by Customs and Excise for 2001–02 will be published in Customs' Annual Report, which had been expected to be published at the end of November and will be laid before Parliament shortly.

National Insurance Contributions

Mark Tami: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates is the annual cost to the Exchequer of (a) under-payment of NICs by those regarded as self-employed and (b) the avoidance of self-employment tax status.

Dawn Primarolo: The amount lost to the exchequer as a result of a failure by individuals correctly to declare their business profits can only be estimated. Lord Grabiner in his report XThe Informal Economy" concluded that it was impractical to arrive at a precise figure but assumed that 'billions of pounds' of income was a realistic figure.
	No specific figures are available as to the amounts lost in respect of either tax or national insurance contributions. However, the Inland Revenue annual report for the year ended 31 March 2001 showed that compliance activity by the Inland Revenue had identified additional tax and National Insurance liability of just under £4.5 billion.

Self-assessment

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-assessment tax returns were (a) issued, (b) received, (c) waiting to be processed and (d) processed in each month since 1st July 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The statistical data requested is detailed in the table.
	
		
			 Date SA ITRs issued SA ITRs received SA ITRs processed SA ITRs waiting to be processed  
		
		
			 Tax year 2000–01 
			  
			 1 July 2001 8,940,513 1,323,115 864,497 458,618 
			 29 July 2001 8,990,292 1,943,901 1,350,597 593,304 
			 2 September 2001 8,989,043 2,798,153 1,966,795 831,358 
			 30 September 2001 9,152,255 4,241,952 2,677,145 1,564,807 
			 4 November 2001 8,842,560 4,682,767 3,421,658 1,261,109 
			 2 December 2001 9,360,099 5,383,846 4,436,261 947,585 
			 30 December 2001 9,299,623 5,745,572 4,839,285 906,287 
			 3 February 2002 9,552,433 8,362,361 5,848,319 2,514,042 
			 3 March 2002 9,610,787 8,732,139 6,892,084 1,840,055 
			 31 March 2002 9,644,313 8,805,949 8,009,457 796,492 
			 Tax year 2001–02 
			 5 May 2002 8,984,089 287,223 74,244 212,979 
			 2 June 2002 9,081,002 751,541 323,265 428,276 
			 7 July 2002 9,167,807 1,397,759 709,556 688,203 
			 4 August 2002 9,232,637 2,020,483 1,135,313 885,170 
			 1 September 2002 9,300,825 2,717,767 1,591,565 1,126,202 
			 6 October 2002 9,394,724 4,475,890 2,438,405 2,037,485 
			 3 November 2002 9,463,002 4,948,989 3,300,392 1,648,597 
			 24 November 2002 9,511,670 5,280,197 4,008,768 1,271,429

Sustainability Strategy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and how it has changed since the Earth Summit in Johannesburg.

John Healey: HM Treasury, Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue contribute to the delivery of the objectives in the Government's Sustainable Development Strategy through a variety of mechanisms, including regular reporting on sustainable development issues and the incorporation of sustainable development into key processes such as Spending Review 2002.
	The outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Government's initial views on delivering them will be set out in the forthcoming Annual Report on Sustainable Development.

Trust Posts

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office for National Statistics decided to classify certain major trust posts as public bodies requiring their financial transactions to be included in the PSBR; and what reasons were given for the decision.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chope, dated 3 December 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the classification of major trust ports. I am replying in his absence. (85123)
	The decision was taken on 26 October 2000.
	Classification decisions are made by applying international standards for National Accounts. These are the 1995 European System of Accounts (Eurostat) and the 1993 System of National Accounts (United Nations, IMF, OECD etc). The classification of corporations to either the private or the public sector is determined by control. The public sector has control over the major trust ports, usually through both appointment rights and powers contained in the Ports Act 1991.

Young People (Business Start-ups)

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what incentives he is introducing to encourage young people in deprived areas to start businesses.

John Healey: We have allocated 60million by 2005–06 to ensure that all pupils in England have five days of enterprise experience before they leave school. This gives effect to the recommendations of the Davies Review of Enterprise and the Economy in Education.
	The Department for Education and Skills will be running pilots to test possible approaches in 2003–04 and 2004–05 at a cost of 5 million and £10 million respectively. This initiative will provide young people in all areas of England, including deprived areas, with experience of enterprise, and encourage them to consider starting their own businesses in the future. Young people wishing to start their own businesses in deprived areas will also benefit from our measures to support enterprise and tackle market failures in these areas more generally. These measures include designating 2,000 Enterprise Areas in the most deprived areas in the UK, where policies to support businesses are now being concentrated. Businesses in these areas already benefit from an exemption from stamp duty on property transfers between 60,000 and 150,000. We have announced that we will remove stamp duty on all commercial transactions in those areas, introduce a more flexible planning regime and a tax credit to encourage community investment, and offer greater support from the Small Business Service and the Inland Revenue.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Solicitor General what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 19 November 2002
	In relation to the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, employees travel by public transport. Should the use of a private car be essential for work, rather than personal, reasons, the Department would bear the cost of the charge. It is not expected that any such occasion should arise.
	The policy of the Treasury Solicitor's Department is to encourage its employees not to use private vehicles on official business and to encourage them to use public transport. The Department will, however, pay road tolls, including the central London road user charge, where use of a private vehicle is essential or where the journey remains cost effective in comparison to the use of public transport.
	The Crown Prosecution Service has not yet published a policy in relation to the reimbursement of the central London road user charges.
	The Serious Fraud Office does not intend to amend its terms and conditions to include reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees for travelling to work.
	In respect of HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, it is Departmental travel policy that employees should not use cars to commute to and from work in London. Where the use of a car in London is essential for work, not personal, reasons, charges will be reimbursed.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Public Procurement Directive

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what scope EU contracting authorities will have under the proposed new EU public procurement directive to make choices between bids at the award stage, based on environmental criteria; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: At the award stage, the proposed new directive makes it clear that contracting authorities are able to use environmental criteria where these are justified by the subject of the contract and provide a benefit to the contracting authority. Such criteria can include whole life cost factors, such as energy usage, disposal costs, and recyclability, as well as those related to qualitative aspects of the product. However, it will often be more appropriate and sensible to take environmental issues into account earlier on in the procurement process, in defining the subject of the contract and the specification. There is much scope to do this, provided that such specifications do not discriminate against suppliers across the Community, and that buyers respect the rules in the directives on technical specifications. Contracting authorities can, for example, specify green production processes (eg timber from sustainable sources, recycled paper, green electricity etc) and can refer to relevant eco-label criteria. Contracting authorities can also define one or more variants to the standard specification to allow, for example, bids to be submitted which offer a higher environmental performance.

Broadband

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 228W, on priority areas, if she will place in the Library the broadband strategy that SEEDA is implementing; and what discussions SEEDA has had with BT to upgrade their exchange on the Isle of Sheppey so broadband can be delivered there.

Stephen Timms: I understand that the Chief Executive of SEEDA has written to my hon. Friend proposing they meet to discuss SEEDA's approach to the promotion of broadband availability in the region. The process for upgrading exchanges for the delivery of broadband involves the setting by BT of registration thresholds, which can be viewed on the BT website. Through its discussions with SEEDA, BT has confirmed that exchanges on Sheppey which are awaiting upgrade to broadband are subject to the same registration process as that which applies to all other exchanges in the region.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the publications produced by her Department that refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau Service for advice and assistance; and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Service in England and Wales, and in Scotland is a valuable source of independent advice and information on a wide range of issues that affect and concern the citizen. The very positive findings of the Quinquennial Review of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) which I announced on 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 943W, and 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 829 respectively confirmed and emphasised this point. Given the CAB Service's knowledge and expertise and the fact that it has a national network of advice centres, Government frequently mentions CABx as a further source of advice and information in its publications as well as in other media such as websites, press notices and in its replies to correspondence from a number of interested parties.
	DTI and other Departments have a good working relationship with both NACAB and CAS. Regular meetings are held at both ministerial and official level to inform each other of developments and any other issues that might impact on the Service in both England and Wales and Scotland.

Dungeness

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what emergency measures are in place to deal with a release of radioactive material from the nuclear facilities at Dungeness.

Brian Wilson: There are well tried and tested emergency plans to deal with a release of radioactive material from Dungeness nuclear facilities. These plans are maintained under the license condition arrangements for all such sites and have been reviewed and tested at regular intervals over many years. The revised off-site emergency plan, prepared by Kent county council in consultation with the emergency services and power stations, has just been published in accordance with the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001. The plan covers procedures, facilities and equipment. The last off-site emergency exercise for Dungeness was the major national exercise for 2001–02, and took place on 27 March 2002. It involved relevant local and national agencies.

Energy Efficiency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals she has to introduce targeting of programmes and aid to promote energy efficiency.

Brian Wilson: The Government are currently caring out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper early in the new year. As a part of this review it is considering mechanisms for the promotion of energy efficiency.

Export Licence OIEL No.45

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) type, (b) quantity and (c) total value of components supplied to India under Export Licence OIEL No.45 of 6 September 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 53W.

Leg-irons and Cuffs

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been (a) made and (b) granted for export licences for (i) leg-irons and (ii) over-sized cuffs in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 26 November 2002
	The export of leg-irons, over-sized handcuffs and individual cuffs are controlled under entry PL5001 in Part III of Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 as amended, to ensure as far as possible, full compliance by the UK on the embargo on instruments of torture.
	The number of Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) applications and Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) applications that have been made and granted, for the proposed export of over-sized handcuffs, is set out in the table below:
	
		
			   Over-sized handcuffs  
			  SIEL applications received SIELs issued OIEL applications received OIELs issued 
		
		
			 2 May 1997–31 December 1997 4 3 0 0 
			 1998 10 10 0 0 
			 1999 7 6 0 0 
			 2000 9 5 1 0 
			 2001 6 4 0 0 
			 1 January 2002– 15 November 2002 5 6 0 0 
		
	
	During the same period, no SIEL applications or OIEL applications were made or granted for the proposed export of leg-irons or over-sized individual cuffs.
	This information should be considered in light of the answer tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–871.

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average payment made to ex-miners in compensation for respiratory disease was in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; and how many claims were settled in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001, in each constituency.

Brian Wilson: The average payment made to ex-miners for respiratory disease as of 24 November 2002 is £6,421. It is not possible to give the average figure for 1999, 2000, and 2001 in the time available or to provide the number of claims settled in each year for each constituency. However, I would like to refer the hon. Member to the Department's coal health claims website which contains regularly updated breakdowns of statistics for coal health claims for each constituency and has a profile of payments made.

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims by ex-miners for compensation for respiratory disease were settled using the fast-track procedure; and what the average payment was under the fast track procedure in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001.

Brian Wilson: The figures are as follows.
	
		
			  Number of expedited payments Average value of expedited payment (£) 
		
		
			 1999 806 5,739 
			 2000 3,675 5,013 
			 2001 6,574 4,564

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Ministers whose responsibilities have included the payment of miners compensation have been in post since 1997.

Brian Wilson: Since 1997 there have been four energy Ministers whose responsibilities have included the payment of miners compensation: my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West (Mr. Battle), my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mr. Liddell), my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Peter Hain) and myself.

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medical examination centres are operational for examining ex-miners who have lodged applications for compensation for respiratory disease; and how many there were in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000.

Brian Wilson: As of 28 November 2002 there are 29 operational medical testing centres for examining ex-miners who have lodged applications for compensation for respiratory disease. Eight of these are operating at double capacity and one is operating as a triple centre. In addition to these medical testing centres there are two mobile testing units.
	There were no testing centres opened at the end of 1999, as the medical contract with Healthcall was just signed at the end of October 1999. As of the end of 2000 there were 27 fully operational medical testing centres, two of which were double centres.

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met representatives of the mining unions to discuss issues relating to the payment of miners' compensation claims.

Brian Wilson: Representatives of mining unions are on the various ministerial monitoring groups which advise the Department on the compensation schemes. I last met the National Monitoring Group on 12 November and have meetings every 3 to 4 months. I regularly meet with union representatives in the open meetings I have been holding in mining areas.

Nuclear Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial commitments she has made towards research into Generation IV nuclear energy systems; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The UK with eight other countries signed the Charter of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) in July 2001. The initiative foresaw a need for advanced nuclear energy systems in the future to help meet growing international demands for carbon free energy; and that to meet public concerns, future systems must meet exceptionally high standards of safety, sustainability and proliferation resistance, while operating economically in liberalised markets. The aim is to develop a framework for collaborative R&D to facilitate the deployment of such advanced reactor systems from 2030 and beyond. The GIF meeting in Tokyo in September 2002 agreed a XRoadmap" for R&D development based on six systems selected as best satisfying these goals. Further information is available from the following website -http://energY.gov/HOPress/releases02/scppr/GIFupdate.pdf
	UK participation in the Charter is without commitment to a specific nuclear proportion of UK electricity generation sources. The involvement of representatives from DTI, HSE and the industry ensures our nuclear technology and regulatory experience is shared internationally.
	The framework for international research agreement under the Generation IV initiative has yet to be put in place and the extent of any UK financial commitment to research has yet to be decided.

Nuclear Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) UK's role within the Generation IV International Forum and (b) agreement reached on Generation IV nuclear energy systems in Japan in September.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the level of BNFL-funded nuclear waste decommissioning and radioactive remediation liabilities.

Brian Wilson: The recent DTI White Paper, Managing the Nuclear Legacy—a strategy for action, estimated that public sector civil nuclear liabilities stood at £47.9 billion undiscounted as at 31 March 2002; BNFL's share of those liabilities stood at £27.2 billion at that time.

Planning Applications

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what timescale has been put in place for regional government offices to deal with planning applications called in for (a) small developments, (b) major planning applications and (c) for applications dealing with tree preservation orders;
	(2)  what guidelines govern the time taken to make decisions on planning applications called in by the Government.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	Following proposals in the Planning Green Paper, a new Planning Central Casework Division has been established in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to deal with decisions on planning applications called in by my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The Central Casework Division has a shared target with the Planning Inspectorate to decide 80 per cent. of my right. hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister's cases (this includes both called in applications and recovered appeals), from close of Inquiry to decision, within 16 weeks by March 2004.
	Applications dealing with tree preservation are not called in. The Government Offices for the Regions deal with appeals against local authority decisions under tree preservation orders. They have a target to decide 80 per cent. of such appeals within eight weeks of receiving the Inspecting Officer's report.

Power Cuts

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire were without power after the storms in October; and for how long in each case.

Brian Wilson: I have been advised by LE Group that the numbers of customers without electricity due to the storm in Chesham and Amersham on the following days were:
	
		
			 Day Numbers of customers 
		
		
			 27 October 2002 1,977 
			 28 October 2002 150 
			 29 October 2002 88 
			 30 October 2002 55 
			 31 October 2002 43 
			 1 November 2002 0 
		
	
	With regard to your question (b), LE Group and Scottish and Southern Energy (S&S) company area boundaries divide Buckinghamshire. The companies have informed me that the number of customers without electricity was as follows:
	
		
			  Number of customers 
			 Day S&S LE Group Total 
		
		
			 27 October 2002 7,190 7,112 14,302 
			 28 October 2002 1,387 3,597 4,984 
			 29 October 2002 222 997 1,219 
			 30 October 2002 0 761 761 
			 31 October 2002 0 686 686 
			 1 November 2002 0 50 50 
		
	
	No accurate figures are available for 2 November 2002 from LE Group: however, all LE Group customers were restored by midnight on 3 November 2002.

Regional Energy Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's regional energy strategy.

Brian Wilson: The Government are currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the new year. As a part of this review, it is considering the role of the regions.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in the UK are employed in the renewable energy industry.

Brian Wilson: At present, there are no authoritative figures on the number of people employed in the renewable energy sector. Renewables UK plans to undertake a collaborative study of the renewable supply chain covering all technologies for publication in the second half of 2003. One aim of this study is to detail how many people are employed across the whole renewable energy sector.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of licensed electricity suppliers fulfilled all of their obligations under the Renewables Obligation through the purchase of green certificates in 2001.

Brian Wilson: The Renewables Obligation only came into effect on 1 April 2002, so electricity suppliers were not under any obligation in 2001. The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority are required by the Renewables Obligation Order to maintain a register holding specific information on the Renewables Obligation Certificates and to publish an annual report on the performance of the Obligation.
	The first such report will cover the financial year 2002–03.

Renewable Energy Goods

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent initiatives there have been to encourage entrepreneurs to (a) develop and (b) export renewable energy goods and services.

Brian Wilson: The Renewables Obligation, which the Government introduced on 1 April 2002, is being backed by over £250 million of direct support measures to bring forward newer renewable energy technologies. This provides a substantial incentive to renewable energy generation in the UK, and creates a favourable climate, too, for the expansion of renewable energy goods and services.
	Accordingly, the Government set up in April a new unit, Renewables UK, to encourage the renewable energy sector to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Renewables Obligation, and to increase the UK industry content of renewable energy projects.
	To foster innovative research and development activity, the Government have increased provision for the New and Renewable Energy Programme to £19 million per year. The programme includes an export promotion arm, for which Renewables UK is responsible, which provides specific, targeted support to UK companies in the renewables sector.
	Renewables UK chairs an inter-governmental committee, the Sustainable Energy Exports Committee, which brings together all Departments and Government agencies supporting renewable energy exports activity to work together for the benefit of UK companies.
	The Export Credit Guarantee Department makes available cover for up to £50 million of exports each year for projects in the renewable energy sector.

Renewable Energy Targets

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what renewable energy targets have been set for local authorities.

Brian Wilson: The Government have not set renewable energy targets for local authorities. However, the regional resource assessments, which indicate the level of renewable generation necessary for the UK to achieve the 10 per cent. target by 2010, have now been completed. The assessments take into account each region's potential renewable resource and have been made available to inform local decision taking.
	The findings from the regional resource assessments can be found in the Regional Renewable Energy Assessments report, which can be accessed at the following web address: http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/oxera—report.pdf

Solar Photovoltaics Industry

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in improving the UK's competitive position in the solar photovoltaics industry; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Renewables UK is planning to undertake a collaborative study of the renewable supply chain covering all technologies, including photovoltaics, during 2003. This will identify strengths and weaknesses of the industry, and identify opportunities for UK companies.
	In the meantime, there is evidence that the UK PV industry is gearing up to meet the challenge of the £20 million first phase of the major PV demonstration programme. For example, after the first six months of the programme there are 28 installation companies provisionally accredited, and several companies are developing roofing and cladding products for the UK market, which could also be marketed overseas.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military commitments have been made to the Afghan Government to assist in developing a stable democracy in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Since the installation of the Afghan Interim Authority on 22 December 2001, we have deployed a range of land, air and sea forces to Afghanistan. We were the first Lead Nation of the International Security Assistance Force deployed in Kabul in support of the Bonn Agreement that will lead to democratic elections. We remain a major troop contributor to the ISAF with some 300 troops now in Kabul. ISAF continues to help Afghan authorities maintain stability within Kabul, an essential component to the success of the Transitional Authority.

Cadet Forces

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the implications of funding the sea cadets on the same basis as the army cadets and air training corps;
	(2)  on what basis his Department funds (a) the sea cadets, (b) the army cadets and (c) the air training corps; and if he will fund the sea cadets on an equal basis to the army and air training corps.

Lewis Moonie: The Army Cadets and the Air Training Corps are voluntary youth organisations sponsored by the MOD and are funded appropriate to the way they are organised. The Sea Cadet Corps is an independent youth organisation which is neither owned nor managed by the Ministry of Defence. However, it is jointly sponsored by the MOD and Sea Cadet Association (SCA). The Ministry of Defence supports the Sea Cadets in the form of financial assistance, material and limited manpower resources.
	The Ministry of Defence has made no formal assessment of the implications of funding the Sea Cadets on the same basis as the Army Cadets and the Air Training Corps, and has no plans to do so.

Chinook

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the HK2 Chinook helicopters were sold back to the USA Government; whether the helicopters have been purchased outright; what the initial cost was of the helicopters; at what price they were resold to the US Government; whether there are plans to replace them; and what impact the sale of the helicopters has had on British forces' operational ability.

Adam Ingram: We have not sold any of our Mark 2 Chinook helicopters to the USA Government. However, we have received an approach from US Department of Defence officials to purchase their new MH47'G' model Chinook in return for our UK Mark 3 model. However, no formal proposal has yet been made, and no decision will be made until such a proposal is presented and has been given full consideration.

Contingencies Funding

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what contingencies extra money has been allocated to his Department, as referred to by the Chancellor in his statement on the pre-Budget report; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The £1 billion special reserve allocation is being made available to cover costs of military and overseas operations to ensure that the United Kingdom can continue to play a leading role in the global war against terror. No assumptions have been made at this time as to the scope and nature of any operations that may be required.

Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will write to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South regarding his answer of 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 472W, concerning service personnel accommodation.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is still being collated. I will write to the hon. Member once it is available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Decontamination Training

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military units in active service, (b) reserve military units and (c) Territorial Army units have specialised CBW decontamination training.

Adam Ingram: All United Kingdom service personnel are trained to decontaminate themselves, their personal equipment and in some cases the equipment they operate. In addition, on Royal Navy ships and at Royal Air Force bases, teams can be formed to undertake decontamination as required to sustain operations. The Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment maintains three decontamination troops whose primary role is to decontaminate the regiment's equipment but who could also provide a capability for other units. Two of these troops are drawn from the Royal Yeomanry, a Territorial Army unit.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent he monitors the performance of the Defence Export Services Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Export Services Organisation is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence. Support to United Kingdom defence exports is an Additional Target in the Public Service Agreement 2000 and MOD's performance is formally monitored via the performance reporting system. The Head of Defence Export Services and his staff report frequently to Defence Ministers, who are often involved personally in supporting UK defence exporters in their overseas markets.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which defence contracts the Defence Export Services Organisation has been successful in achieving for British companies in the Middle East in the past three years.

Lewis Moonie: In the Middle East, between 1999 and 2001, United Kingdom defence industry secured business worth over £5.5 billion. The results of a survey of UK industry, completed in 1999, showed that they assessed that the Defence Export Services Organisation played a major role in securing some 75 per cent. of their successes.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often he meets the head of Defence Export Services to discuss the performance of DESO in assisting British companies.

Lewis Moonie: The Head of Defence Export Services meets Defence Ministers frequently to discuss the work of the Defence Export Services Organisation, including its support for British defence exports.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the most senior 50 employees of the Defence Export Services Organisation have a military background.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently 14 serving or retired military officers employed at Assistant Director level or above in the Defence Export Services Organisation.

Emergency Planning Centres (Somerset)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the emergency planning centres are in Somerset.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Defence has no emergency planning centres in Somerset.
	Planning for emergencies at the local level is the responsibility of a range of organisations, including local authorities and the emergency services. This ensures the degree of operational flexibility necessary for local services to respond to such emergencies, taking account of specific local needs. These organisations act within a framework of well established guidelines produced by central Government and professional bodies such as the Association of Chief Police Officers, in order to ensure effective co-ordination and consistency of approach.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the second tranche of orders for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Lewis Moonie: The order for the second tranche of Typhoons, of which 89 will be for the Royal Air Force, is planned to be placed by the four participating nations during 2003.

Gulf War Syndrome

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what working definition of Gulf War Syndrome he used in order to assess whether such a condition existed.

Lewis Moonie: Each medical syndrome comprises a set of physical signs and/or symptoms that distinguishes it from other medical conditions. As a group, Gulf veterans have reported more ill-health than other comparable groups. The pattern of their ill- health is not unique but they have reported symptoms with greater frequency and of more severity than those in comparable groups. Some Gulf veterans have recognised medical conditions, but a large number of non-specific, multi-system, medically unexplained symptoms have also been reported. The consensus of the international scientific and medical community is that this diversity of symptoms means that ill-health among Gulf veterans cannot be characterised as a unique Gulf related illness or syndrome. The Ministry of Defence's approach must be guided by medical science and so does not recognise XGulf War Syndrome" as a medical condition and has no working definition of such a syndrome.

Headline Goal

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding the use of Russian assets to achieve the Headline Goal.

Geoff Hoon: The Nice European Council agreed that Russia, Ukraine, other European states with which the Union maintains political dialogue and other interested states could be invited to participate in EU-led operations. However, the Headline Goal is a target for EU member states. However, the ECAP panel on outsized transport aircraft is considering, along with other options, whether developing existing arrangements for chartering Russian transport aircraft might be part of an interim solution to the shortfall of airlift assets until A400M is delivered. Implementing solutions identified by the panel will be a matter for member states.

HMS Nottingham

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement about the future of HMS Nottingham;
	(2)  what measures he is taking to redistribute to other warships duties formerly allocated to HMS Nottingham.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the written Ministerial Statement made today.

HMS Nottingham

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason HMS Sheffield has not been retained in service following the damage to HMS Nottingham.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the Ministerial Statement made today. This decision was taken as part of the process of ensuring that the best use of the capability available is made to meet operational commitments. HMS Sheffield, an anti submarine warfare frigate, is not required to meet these commitments.

Homeland Defence and Security

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with agencies and other Government Departments on homeland defence and security coordination and centralisation.

Adam Ingram: Issues concerning homeland defence and security, including organisational matters, are addressed in a series of ministerial and official committees which meet regularly. The Government's position on coordination and centralisation was laid out most recently in its response to the Defence Select Committee's Sixth Report of Session 2001–02, 'Defence and Security in the UK'.

Iraq

Alice Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) preparing tanks for desert conditions, (b) enhancing medical support to improve hygiene conditions in field hospitals, (c) speeding up the purchase of temporary disposable accommodation, (d) improving military ambulances, (e) extra training in service and (f) communications and call up of reservists, in the event of war with Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about (a) preparations for and (b) the sustainability of a Royal Naval task force for possible operations against Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: Exercise Saif Sareea II, in Oman towards the end of last year, fully demonstrated our ability to deploy forces to the Middle East and sustain them there. As I have already assured the House, we shall continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure that our armed forces are ready to take whatever action might be asked of them should Iraq fail to comply with UN Resolution 1441. It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of any specific preparations at this stage.

Medical Reservists

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army are (a) medical officers, (b) nurses and (c) combat medical technicians.

Lewis Moonie: The following table shows the numbers of Doctors, Nurses and Combat Medical Technicians (CMTs) in Army Medical Services TA units (Field Ambulances, Medical Squadrons, Specialist Units, Ambulance Regiments and Field Hospitals), as at 29 November 2002:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Doctors 405 
			 Nurses 1,213 
			 Combat Medical Technicians 1,463 
		
	
	In addition, other units throughout the TA are established for medical officers and CMTs. Information on which of these posts are filled is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Deployments

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military forces are allocated to (a) NATO duties and exercises, (b) the EU Rapid Reaction force and (c) SEATO.

Geoff Hoon: The United Kingdom is a significant contributor to NATO and the majority of UK armed forces can be made available for NATO deployments. There is no standing EU Rapid Reaction Force: nations' forces would come together for specific EU-led crisis management operations, for which it is envisaged that the maximum UK contribution would be up to 12,500 personnel. The South-east Asian Treaty Organisation ceased to exist in 1977.

Monte Bello Islands

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussion his Department has had with the Australian Government concerning cancer risk among the civilian population surrounding the British nuclear testing in the Monte Bello Islands in the 1950s; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: There have been no recent discussions of this type.

Nuclear Weapons Tests

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has conducted into the levels of internal radiological contamination of British service personnel and medical auxiliaries who were present at atmospheric British nuclear tests; and if he will arrange for the relevant documents to be posted on his departmental website.

Lewis Moonie: Stringent safety precautions were in place during the atmospheric nuclear tests and environmental monitoring was carried out at the time. Two comprehensive and independent epidemiological studies were carried out on the Ministry of Defence's behalf by the National Radiological Protection Board, in conjunction with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. The studies showed that participation in the test programme has had no detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Copies of both these reports, respectively NRPB reports R214 and R266, are available in the Library of the House. The results of a third study will be published next year.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 
	(1)  what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travelling in 2001–02;
	(2)  what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Adam Ingram: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002 Official Report, column 1374–75W). The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–2003 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Police (Salisbury Plain)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to locate a regional headquarters of the Ministry of Defence Police on Salisbury Plain; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Consideration is being given to establish a western regional police headquarters at Bulford, Salisbury Plain, to cover the South West, Wales and the West Midlands. If this goes forward a new joint Ministry of Defence Police/Royal Military Police facility will be provided under Project Allenby/Connaught, which is the provision of new accommodation at the Aldershot and Salisbury Plain sites. The provisional time scale for completion is 2008–10.
	The western headquarters will initially be located at the existing Operational Command Unit Headquarters at MOD Foxhill in Bath until the completion of the new accommodation.

Service Deaths

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the dates and circumstances were of the deaths of each serviceman and woman (a) from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 and (b) from 1 January 2002 to 1 November 2002.

Lewis Moonie: Information relating to the causes of death of Service personnel in 2001 is contained in tables 2.25 and 4.2 of publication XUK Defence Statistics 2002" available in the House of Commons Library and on the DASA web site (www.dasa.mod.uk). Information for 2002 is not yet available.

Southern Africa

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what logistical support his Department has offered to address the humanitarian crisis in southern Africa.

Adam Ingram: The Department for International Development (DFID) is the lead Department for humanitarian assistance by Her Majesty's Government. The Ministry of Defence has not received any requests to provide logistical support to those providing humanitarian assistance in southern Africa, but officials are in touch with those in DFID. The Ministry of Defence would naturally consider any requests for military assistance.

Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the order for the batch 2 Astute class submarines will be placed.

Lewis Moonie: A decision on the timing of future submarine orders is not expected before the first half of 2003.

Sustainability Strategy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Lewis Moonie: Work is continuing on the development of a Ministry of Defence sustainable development strategy based on the Government's model, as set out in XA Better Quality of Life". The Strategy, which is to be taken forward by a Steering Group, chaired by Defence Estates, draws together a wide range of existing departmental activities into a single sustainability framework, comprising four separate but inter-related workstreams. These will address indicator development, appraisal tool development, training and awareness raising, and reporting.
	Outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and first views on follow-up will be reflected in the annual report on United Kingdom progress on sustainable development for 2002. Our strategy will take account of these outcomes, where they are appropriate to, or impact on the activities of, the Ministry of Defence.
	More information on our strategy is contained in the Sustainable Development in Government First Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Vehicle Mounted Active Denials Systems

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for British forces to use Vehicle Mounted Active Denial Systems.

Lewis Moonie: There are no plans for British forces to use the Vehicle Mounted Active Denial System, although we continue to assess the developments in this field of technology.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Sellers' Packs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the pilot carried out in Bristol on seller's packs for house sales.

Tony McNulty: The Bristol Pilot Scheme provided valuable information in the development of our proposals for sellers' packs. The pilot was set up to test how easily packs could be assembled and how the information in the pack would be received and used. The results showed that packs can be assembled quickly. They also confirmed consumer support for the pack, demonstrated the tangible benefits that the pack can bring to the home buying and selling process and identified areas where further work needed to be done.

Census Forms

Bob Laxton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms (a) in Derby, North and (b) in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from J. Pullinger to Mr. Bob Laxton, dated 3 December 2002
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Derby North and (b) in the UK. I am replying in his absence. (85079)
	In England and Wales there were 38 prosecutions for refusal to complete and return a census form. There were no prosecutions in the Derby North constituency. Scotland and Northern Ireland conducted their own Censuses and the prosecution for refusal to complete and return a census form was the responsibility of the respective Registrars General.
	The Office for National Statistics followed a policy of only prosecuting in cases where it had obtained clear and sufficient documentary evidence of a refusal to return a completed Census form. Particular attention was given to those reported cases where refusals were accompanied by acts of intimidation towards field staff.

Coalfield Regeneration

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what additional resources will be made available to increase the capacity of former coalfield communities to develop projects and bid for funds under the coalfield regeneration programme administered through English Partnerships;
	(2)  what the criteria are by which coalfield regeneration funding will be applied to coalfield communities adjacent to a designated site.

Tony McNulty: The National Coalfield Programme, managed by English Partnerships, has an agreed budget of £385m to remediate up 98 coalfield sites and to bring positive change by encouraging new business and job creation. The programme also creates public open space, as well as leisure and social facilities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed new flexibility within the programme allowing English Partnerships to invest in projects outside of the immediate site boundaries where this approach offers greater benefit to that coalfield community. In these cases basic remediation of the programme site will still be carried out.
	There is no system of bidding for projects under the programme. However, English Partnerships work closely with other stakeholders including local authorities, regional development agencies, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and community groups in formulating proposals under the flexibility agreement.
	Projects to enhance community capacity are supported separately by the coalfield regeneration trust, including the recent appointment of a second midlands regeneration manager to help develop the capacity of community groups.

Concessionary Travel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will increase the level of subsidy provided to local authorities for pensioners bus passes.

Christopher Leslie: The provisional local government finance settlement will include £50 million announced by the Department for Transport on 27 February 2002 in respect of the cost to local authorities of equalisation of bus pass eligibility at age 60 for men and women. Resources for bus passes are not separately identified within the system.

Fire Cover Task Group

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Fire Cover Task Group to make recommendations to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council following the Pathfinder trials; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Fire Cover Review Task Group agreed the text of its final report at the end of September 2002. The central Fire Brigades Advisory Council will consider the report at a future meeting.

Fire Service

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost is of the benefits that apply to a new entrant to the Fire Service; what financial and demographic assumptions are used to make this estimate; and when the mortality assumption for pensioners was last reviewed.

Nick Raynsford: For the Review of the Fire Service Pensions published in 1998, the cost of the benefits under the Firefighters Pension Scheme was assessed at 34.75 per cent. of pensionable pay.The financial and demographic assumptions were based on the probabilities of firefighters leaving the service through various causes, their salary progression throughout their careers and their mortality rates once in receipt of benefits. The mortality assumption for pensioners was last reviewed in 1991.

Fire Service (Retirements)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the reasons for the incidence of retirement on ill health grounds in the fire service; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The reasons for ill health retirements are collected and reviewed regularly. Figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 showing the percentages in the main categories:
	
		Percentage 
		
			  Due to service  (29.7 per cent.) Not due to service  (70.3 per cent.) 
			 Reason of which: of which: 
		
		
			 Muscular skeletal 60.43 37.44 
			 Hearing 1.30 7.34 
			 Cardiovascular 0.43 7.89 
			 Respiratory 0.86 4.77 
			 Eye/vision 0.43 0.91 
			 Neurological 0.86 3.67 
			 Psychological 18.69 20 
			 Other 17.00 17.98

Firefighters' Dispute

Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library e-mails containing advice given by his officials to the Fire Services Employers since the beginning of 2002 regarding the pay dispute with the Fire Brigades Union.

Nick Raynsford: Officials at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are in regular contact with the Fire Service Employers on a variety of issues. There are no records of any e-mails sent from officials on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the Fire Service specifically containing advice on the pay dispute with the Fire Brigades Union.

Housing

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authority homes have been sold under right to buy in the last five years; how many new homes have been built by (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in the last five years; and how many people were classified as homeless in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information collected is not in the form requested. Available information in respect of activity in England is presented in the table.
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Total 
		
		
			 Local authority sales of stock under RTB 41,330 40,270 54,250 52,380 51,970 240,200 
			 New build by Las 320 190 100 390 110 1,110 
			 New build by RSLs 21,400 18,920 17,360 16,610 14,370 88,660 
			 Homeless households accepted as eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need by LAs 102,650 104,150 106,130 114,350 118,360 545,640 
		
	
	Notes:
	Homeless decisions made under the 1996 Housing Act, plus any residual 1985 Housing Act cases, reflect households accepted as eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need.
	Sources:
	RTB: DTLR/ODPM housing activity return P1B (quarterly).
	New build: DTLR/ODPM housing activity return P2 (monthly).
	Homelessness: DTLR/ODPM housing activity return PIE (quarterly).

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what effect the abolition of section 24(3) of the Housing Act 1985 as it relates to England will have on the level of public sector and regulated rents; what the Government's rent restructuring policy is; and what the effect will be on the landlord's ability to repair property subject to regulated rent where rent increases are held below the rate of inflation;
	(2)  whether the Government plans to set up a rent restructuring authority;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact that the changes proposed to the Social Security Administration Act 1992, relating to the rent rebate subsidy limitation on those local authorities where housing rents are above a certain level as described on page 41 of the explanatory memorandum of the Local Government Bill; and based on the present criteria, how many more affordable houses could potentially be built if all rents were allowed to rise to market levels;
	(4)  what reason the Government is seeking to repeal subsection 7 of section 140B of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to give him additional powers to determine the level of rent rebate subsidy, rent allowance subsidy and council tax benefit subsidy; and whether local authorities will be required to provide information on these subsidies to the (a) ODPM and (b) Department of Work and Pensions.

Tony McNulty: The Government's rent restructuring policy aims to achieve a more coherent and fairer structure of social rents, while keeping rents affordable and well below market levels. Over the next ten years, social landlords are being encouraged to move their rents towards a common rents formula, which links rents to relative property values, local manual earnings levels, and property sizes.
	We believe that the arrangements are fair both to landlords and tenants. We shall be reviewing the implementation of rent restructuring after three years. We have no proposals for a rent restructuring authority. The level of social sector rents is a matter for local authorities and registered social landlords, taking account of rent restructuring policies.
	The effective repeal of Section 24(3) of the Housing Act 1985 in England is not expected to have any significant effect on the level of public sector rents. Section 24(3) applies only to local authorities and requires them to have regard, when setting their rents, to the pattern of private sector rents. This might, towards the end of the ten year rent restructuring period, have impacted marginally on an authority's ability to set rents in line with the rents formula.
	The changes proposed in the Local Government Bill to the Social Security Administration Act 1992 will not affect the policy of rent rebate subsidy limitation, which will continue to operate in line with our rent restructuring policy as now.
	The repeal to subsection 7 of section 1406 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 would not confer any additional powers on my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. This subsection made unclear the true extent of my rt. hon Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's powers in relation to determining subsidies and we believe it should be repealed. Authorities will be required to provide information to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in relation to rent allowance subsidy and council tax subsidy. In relation to rent rebate subsidy, and in particular rent rebate subsidy limitation, authorities may be required to submit information to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in England (ODPM), or the National Assembly in Wales (NAW), who could pass this information to the DWP along with representations as to the form of rent rebate subsidy limitation formulae. This would be possible as an alternative to requiring authorities to send that information directly to the DWP. It is not intended that authorities should have to provide the same information to both the DWP and the ODPM/ NAW.

Local Authority Housing

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the relationship between local authorities and tenant management organisations with specific reference to those local authorities seeking to pursue a large scale voluntary transfer of their stocks;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on advice he is offering to local authorities on the issue of tenant management organisations, with specific reference to those which are choosing to pursue large scale voluntary transfer; and whether this advice has changed following the case of Westminster City Council-Pimlico Village Housing Co-operative.

Tony McNulty: The Housing Transfer Guidance 2002 Programme required that all existing and developing Tenant Management Organisations should be fully consulted at an early stage of the local authorities' investment appraisal process.
	This guidance is not affected by the difficulties between Westminster City Council and Pimlico Village Housing Co-operative.

Local Authority Sheltered Accommodation

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the impact on rents in sheltered accommodation owned by local authorities of its introduction of Supporting People;
	(2)  how the assumed inflation rate following the introduction of Supporting People will impact upon rent levels and service charges for local authority sheltered accommodation if its actual rate of inflation is greater.

Tony McNulty: Local authority rents are set in accordance with the Government's policy on rent re-structuring. From April 2003 any costs in respect of support services will require to be separately identified and will not be eligible for Housing Benefit. Authorities are being awarded Supporting People grant on the basis of relevant expenditure at 31 March 2003, uplifted by funding stream specific inflation factors.

Local Authority Sheltered Accommodation

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the split between housing revenue account and supporting people budget, with specific reference to local authority sheltered accommodation from April 2003 onwards.

Tony McNulty: Under proposals contained in the consultation paper XA New Financial Framework for Local Authority Housing: Resource Accounting in the Housing Revenue Account", the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sought views on the options of accounting for the new Supporting People grant in either the housing revenue account or in the general fund. We will publish the outcome of that consultation very soon.

Local Authority Sheltered Accommodation

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how transitional housing benefit will operate in the case of local authority sheltered accommodation with specific reference to those authorities that have previously used rate fund moneys.

Tony McNulty: The Supporting People programme will transfer transitional housing benefit and a number of other housing related funding streams to a new grant. Rate fund moneys are not among these funding streams.

Local Education Authority Grants

John Redwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will increase grant payments to local education authorities to take account of the EU benchmarks.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 25 November 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The structure and organisation of national education systems is the responsibility of individual EL) member states. There are no education benchmarks at EU level that we are required to meet.

Local Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the new housing strategy which will be prepared for each local authority under the Local Government Bill will be required to consider the aims and objectives contained in the existing homelessness strategies; what arrangements will be made for (a) the public, (b) registered social landlords, (c) the private sector and (d) other non governmental bodies involved in housing to participate in the preparation of the strategy; and what estimate he has made of the compliance cost.

Tony McNulty: Local housing authorities have produced housing strategies for a number of years although they are currently non-statutory.
	Existing guidance emphasises the need for authorities to demonstrate robust links with relevant strategies such as Homelessness Strategies. The new framework for housing-related plans will give councils the flexibility to combine their housing and homelessness strategies and other related strategies in a single document, where this suits local circumstances. The Local Government Bill does not change the provisions in the 2002 Act which relate to the objectives which may be included in an authority's homelessness strategy.
	Existing guidance also stresses the importance of involving stakeholders in the development of the strategy, including residents, partner organisations and members. However it is up to local authorities to decide the appropriate arrangements according to their local circumstances. Of course, if the authority chooses to incorporate the homelessness strategy in the broader housing strategy the duties under the Homelessness Act relating to consultation and involvement of other bodies would still apply.
	The Bill does not place a new burden on authorities. No estimate has therefore been made of the cost to authorities of complying with this requirement.

Local Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how an empty home will be defined under the provisions of the Local Government Bill; what steps he took to ensure that evidence collected during the course of investigations to determine whether a home is empty is compatible with an individual's right to privacy under article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Clause 75 of the Bill will allow billing authorities in England to reduce or end council tax discounts for classes of dwellings prescribed in regulations. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to produce a draft of regulations defining such a class of long term empty homes in time for the Commons' Committee consideration of this clause. The precise wording has still to be decided. We intend, however, to define empty homes as vacant dwellings which are not exempt from council tax. A dwelling is vacant if no-one lives in it and it is substantially unfurnished.
	The provisions contained in the Local Government Bill will not impose any additional checks to those which local authorities already have to undertake to establish whether a domestic property is empty or not for the purposes of the existing 50 per cent. council tax discount for long term empty homes, or for the council tax exemptions for empty homes. Just as billing authorities will have to act compatibly with the Convention rights in investigating whether a dwelling is vacant for the purposes of the council tax, they will have to act compatibly with Convention rights in making any further use of the data as will be permitted by clause 85.

Local Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list those authorities where the shortfall from handling stock transfer has resulted in an overhanging debt payment from his Department; and how much each of those payments amounted to;
	(2)  how much money his Department has set aside under clauses 40 and 41 of the draft Local Government Bill in each of the next three years to meet future payments of overhanging debt payable to (a) public works loans commissioners and (b) other lenders; and what the criteria will be for deciding whether such payments should be made.

Tony McNulty: To date, seven one-off payments have been made. In 1999–2000 £20.99 million was paid to Burnley. In 2000–01 payments were made to Coventry (£111.68 million) Calderdale (£64.59 million) and Blackburn with Darwen (£78.9 million). In 2002–03 payments have been made to St. Helens (£87.2 million), Redcar and Cleveland (£25.4 million) and Knowsley (£126.13 million).
	Resources required by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to meet commitments arising under clause 40 and 41 of the draft Local Government Bill will depend on the local authorities seeking to transfer their housing in any particular year. The resources are classified as Annually Managed Expenditure and as such are drawn down on an annual basis. Provision for 2003–04 is currently £616 million, and all payments would go to the Public Works Loans Commissioners. Provision for future years will relate to the 2003 transfer programme onward, for which applications from local authorities have yet to be invited. A local authority will be eligible where it has been accepted onto the housing transfer programme and where on disposal of its stock the receipt it will receive will be less than its housing attributable debt.

Local Government

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the arrangements will be for transferring subsidies from those authorities with surplus housing revenue accounts to those authorities in deficit under the proposals in the Local Government Bill; what proportion of that surplus will be affected; whether it will be varied on an annual basis; and what effect this transfer will have on the ability of those surplus authorities to deliver their own housing strategies;
	(2)  what criteria will be contained in the new formula for calculating housing revenue account subsidies under the Local Government Bill; how much his Department has allocated over the next three years for this; and whether authorities receiving central Government subsidy will be debarred from receiving subsidies from those authorities that have surplus housing revenue accounts;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect that the combined policies of pooling capital receipts, transferring surplus housing revenue accounts and resource equalisation will have on the ability of those authorities affected to deliver the existing range of services to the public; and how much will be redistributed in any one year under each of these three mechanisms.

Tony McNulty: Under the arrangements proposed in the Local Government Bill, authorities with an assumed surplus on their Housing Revenue Account (HRA) will be asked to pay the whole of that assumed surplus to central Government. The surpluses, together with a contribution from the Exchequer, will be redistributed to those authorities whose assumed expenditure on their housing stock exceeds their rental income. This will not involve direct transfer between authorities.
	This redistributive mechanism operates already at present, as an authority's assumed HRA surplus is netted off against the rent rebate subsidy due to them in the HRA subsidy calculation, thus providing the national resources to pay subsidy to deficit authorities. However, that will not be possible once rent rebates are removed from the HRA and subsidised separately; hence the need for the new mechanism in the Bill. As surpluses are effectively captured at present, this proposal will not, therefore, have any effect on the financial position of most councils, or their ability to deliver their housing strategies.
	The assumed surpluses and deficits will continue to be determined annually as now. Authorities will be consulted on the formulae proposed each year in the normal way.
	The pooling of a proportion of housing capital receipts will also ensure that resources are targeted to those areas where housing need is greatest so that all authorities can meet national housing priorities.
	As with HRA surpluses, it is proposed that pooled receipts should be redistributed in full. The amount of pooled receipts will depend on levels of Right to Buy sales at the time.

Local Government Finance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire.

Christopher Leslie: We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which will be on the 5 December, subject to parliamentary business. Once the Government has allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that we will use grant Xfloors" to ensure that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Local Government Finance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central funding has been given by his Department to (a) Buckinghamshire county council, (b) Chiltern district council, (c) Amersham Town council and (d) Chesham Town council in each year since 1 January 1996.

Christopher Leslie: Information on funding provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister under the main local government revenue and capital finance systems to Buckinghamshire county council and Chiltern district council are given in the following table.
	
		£000 
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2002–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Buckinghamshire county council(10) 
			 Revenue funding 
			 Revenue support grant 166,086 157,855 102,116 (10)102,324 101,215 95,891 111,397 91,977 
			 Redistributed business rates 118,192 134,972 91,922 96,628 105,481 119,630 117,618 128,319 
			  
			 Capital funding 
			 Basic credit approvals issued(11) 10,987 12,585 7,976 7,082 6,080 5,134 764 15,171 
			  
			 Chiltern district council 
			 Revenue funding 
			 Revenue support grant 834 571 730 309 160 0 188 0 
			 Redistributed business rates 3,037 3,234 2,934 2,968 3,230 3,568 3,527 3,935 
			  
			 Capital funding 
			 Basic credit approvals issued(12) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 
		
	
	(10) The area covered by Buckinghamshire county council decreased on 1 April 1997 when Milton Keynes became a unitary authority.
	(11) In 2002–03 Buckinghamshire county council had a large transport annual capital guideline amounting to £12.3 million compared to a zero transport annual capital guideline in the previous year.
	(12) Chiltern received zero basic credit approvals between 1995–96 and 2001–02 due to high levels of capital receipts. In 2002–03 a discretionary element was introduced.
	I will write to the hon. Member shortly with information on funding provided to the authorities from other Office of the Deputy Prime Minister programmes.
	No funding has been provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to Amersham Town council or Chesham Town council in any year since 1 January 1996.
	Chesham Town council will, however, benefit from the grant of £30,000 per year towards best value costs that we announced in the local government White Paper XStrong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services". The Local Government Bill contains clauses to enable the Secretary of State to pay such a grant and, in advance of legislation, the Audit Commission has consulted on a proposal to provide about £10,000 of support to each best value parish and town council in 2002–03 by the waiving and reimbursing of recent audit fees. The outcome of the consultation exercise will be announced later this month.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Christopher Leslie: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Minister's visits overseas. Details of travel during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1374–75W. Copies of the list are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister only came into existence in June this year following Machinery of Government changes. The former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions expenditure on official travel was £6.6 million. For agencies now sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, total expenditure was £4.1 million.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Christopher Leslie: The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.
	For 2002–03, the Office's official travel budget is included in the overall administration resource budget. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agencies budgets for official travel in 2002–03 is £4.4 million.

Rates

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason the proposal in the draft Local Government Bill to merge new domestic rates and rates support grant has been dropped in the published Bill.

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the proposed merger of the rate support grant and national non-domestic rates.

Christopher Leslie: The draft Bill proposed the merger of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and redistributed national non-domestic rates (NNDR) into a single grant stream. The intended purpose was to simplify the grant distribution mechanism by paying the combined total of central government unhypothecated grant support for local authorities and the amount of support raised via business rates using a single basis of distribution. The Government believed that this change would make the grant system more transparent and easier for stakeholders to understand.
	A number of local authority responses to the consultation on the draft Bill agreed that the proposed changes would simplify the grant distribution system. However the overwhelming majority of consultation responses argued that the two funding streams should not be merged. The Select Committee also recommend against the proposed merger.
	Having considered carefully all the consultation responses and the views of the Select Committee, the Government decided to not to proceed with the merger because it evidently did not achieve the desired objective of improving the clarity of the grant distribution system.

Standards Board

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints have been received about the Standards Board since it was set up; and how many of these were upheld.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a small number of representations about various aspects of the work done by the Standards Board. Having recently met the chairman of the Standards Board I have full confidence in the board and in the actions it is taking as a wholly independent body to fulfil the role which it was given by the Local Government Act 2000 of promoting high standards of conduct in local authorities.

Starter Home Initiative

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the categories and numbers of key workers to be helped in the starter home initiative were set; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The priorities of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for assistance under the Starter Home Initiative are teachers, police, nurses and other essential health workers. This reflects the importance which the Government attaches to addressing recruitment and retention problems in the key public services of health, education and policing. The number of key workers being helped in each of these groups was informed by the overall number of key workers in each group, the scale of shortages and the ability of individuals in each group to access home ownership. A few other groups of key workers are also receiving assistance through the Initiative in the light of bids received.

Thames Gateway

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average residential density was of housing developments in the London part of the Thames Gateway that received planning permission in the last two years; and what estimate he has made of the average residential density of new housing developments in the London part of the Thames Gateway which will be needed to secure 50,000 new dwelling units within that area over the next 15 years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The average density of developments completed between 1997 and 2000 in the boroughs that make up the London part of the Thames Gateway, as defined by RPG9a, are:
	
		
			 Borough Dwellings per hectare 
		
		
			 Greenwich: 47 
			 Newham: 54 
			 Barking and Dagenham 43 
			 Bexley: 30 
			 Havering: 34 
			 Tower Hamlets: 107 
			 Lewisham: 56 
		
	
	These figures are borough wide averages. Not all of the boroughs listed above are entirely within Thames Gateway.
	Guidance on future levels of housing provision for these boroughs, up to 2016, is set out in the emerging London Plan (Spatial Development Strategy). The London Plan, once finalised, will provide the strategic planning framework for London.
	The draft London Plan also contains policies directed at maximising the potential of sites. The emerging strategic policy framework for residential density is that in urban and central areas, densities of between 50 and 275 units per hectare should be provided. For suburban areas the density range should be between 30 and 65 units per hectare.

PRIME MINISTER

No. 10 Downing Street (Tea Party)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many hon. Members have been invited to bring children from their constituencies to a tea party at 10 Downing Street; how many have accepted; and what criteria are applied to choosing invitees;
	(2)  how many hon. Members have been invited to nominate adults from their constituency to tour the main State Rooms and Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street and the State Room at 11 Downing Street; how many have accepted; and what criteria are applied to choosing invitees.

Tony Blair: Hon. Members from all parties are invited on a rolling programme to nominate and accompany a small group of children from their constituencies to have tea at 10 Downing Street and a small group of adults from their constituencies to come for a tour of the House. The criteria applied are that selection is made by the hon. Member in a fair and open way for children and adults with a particular interest in visiting 10 Downing Street. Since 1998 approximately 340 MPs have accepted invitations for children to come for tea and 95 MPs have accepted invitations for tours of the House.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the total budget of his Office is for official travel in 2002–2003
	(2)  what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Tony Blair: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1374–75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–2003 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	For information about members of my office, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr Tyrie) on Thursday 20 June 2002, Official Report, columns 462–3W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Air Passenger Processing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with advanced passenger processing on incoming flights to the UK.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to the modernisation of public services. Advance Passenger Processing is the framework for a modernised immigration control. It will comprise a range of operational and analytical initiatives which will provide a balance between expediting clearance of genuine passengers and targeting those passengers who present an immigration or security threat. Over the last few years, we have been building a platform of legislation to support this strategy: the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; the Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000; the Immigration (Passenger Information) Order 2000; and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), with .private sector partners, have recently completed a three month feasibility study to examine whether a system of advance passenger processing, akin to the electronic travel authority which operates in Australia, might be applicable to the United Kingdom. The initial conclusions are positive and IND are currently engaged in an evaluation of the study, which is being conducted in consultation with key stakeholders. It is expected that the evaluation will be completed by Spring 2003 and we will then consider the best way forward.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Turkish citizens applied for asylum in the UK in 2001; and how many were successful in their application.

Beverley Hughes: 3,700 Turkish citizens applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in 2001 (excluding dependants). In 2001 there were 7,660 initial decisions made on asylum applications from Turkish nationals, 195 grants of asylum, 275 grants of exceptional leave to remain (ELR), and 7,190 refusals. Data on initial decisions are independent of applications data, and do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
	During 2001, 1,840 appeals against Home Office decisions on Turkish asylum claims were determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority. Of these, 485 granted either refugee status or ELR, 1,295 were dismissed and 60 cases were withdrawn. Appeal outcomes in any given time period do not necessarily relate to initial decisions made in the same period. The figures exclude any further appeals (Immigration Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal, judicial review, House of Lords).

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government is taking to combat the illegal entry of Pakistani Pathan asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: A four tier screening process is in place for all new asylum applicants. Those holding documentation establishing their identity and nationality undergo the first level of screening, which is photographing, fingerprinting and taking personal details. In all other cases, more in-depth screening is undertaken to ascertain nationality and identity along with the route taken to the United Kingdom. The highest level of screening is used in cases where prosecution is a possibility and these interviews are conducted under caution by specially trained officers. Country information is available to immigration officers to assist in establishing nationality.
	A pilot project took place at the Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon exploring ways of identifying nationality by the use of language analysis experts. Samples of conversations were forwarded to language experts to establish if the asylum applicant's language and dialect were consistent with his nationality. The results of this project are still being assessed.
	Flights identified as potentially 'high risk' for carrying passengers who destroy their documents en route to the United Kingdom are met by specially designated and trained immigration officers who escort them to the immigration control for further examination. On a number of occasions full document checks are carried out on arriving flights to ascertain that passengers have the appropriate travel documentation.
	In addition specialist expertise and advice on passport and visa documentation is readily available from the British High Commission in Pakistan and this resource is used by the airlines when denying boarding to inadequately documented passengers.

Asylum Seekers

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contractual relationship exists between his Department and Clearsprings Ltd., with regard to the (a) processing and (b) housing of asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 December 2002
	There is no contractual agreement between Clearsprings Management Ltd. and the Immigration Nationality Directorate on the processing of asylum seekers. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does have a contract with Clearsprings Management Ltd. to provide accommodation for destitute asylum seekers.

Asylum Seekers (Somalia)

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to return failed asylum seekers to Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Asylum seekers from Somalia who are found not to be in need of international protection following proper consideration of their claim have the option to return voluntarily to Somalia by way of a voluntary assisted returns programme.
	If they choose not to return voluntarily they will be subject to removal to Somalia as soon as it is possible to conclude negotiations with the relevant authorities.

Criminal Records Board

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct Capita to deal first with the backlog of claims for the Criminal Records Board which have been waiting for adjudication for more than six months.

Hilary Benn: It is the agency's policy to process disclosure applications in the order that they are received, however, some may complete each stage of the process quicker than others. Some applications become delayed due to missing information from applicants or registered bodies.
	Capita, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Agency and local police forces work in partnership throughout the CRB disclosure process.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will write to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam regarding the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hilary Benn: I will write as soon as possible.

Cyclists (Pavements)

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in 2001 of cyclists riding on pavements, in each police authority; and if he will make it his policy to place these figures in the Library in subsequent years.

Bob Ainsworth: Statistics will be available once Criminal Statistics 2001 is published. This Command Paper is due to be published before the end of 2002.

Drugs Courts

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are being used to assess the success of the drugs courts pilot schemes.

Bob Ainsworth: Drug courts are not presently being piloted in England and Wales, but the STEP Project, a court based treatment initiative, ran in Wakefield and Pontefract from summer 1998 to autumn 2000. The nearest comparison now is with the court review process of the drug treatment and testing order (DTTO), which shares with drug courts in other jurisdictions sentencer review of the progress of offenders.
	The Government believe that getting drug misusing offenders into treatment through court-based interventions can be effective in reducing drug misuse and crime, and officials are currently developing proposals for piloting drug courts drawing upon the good practice of dedicated DTTO review courts.

Ex-prisoners

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on resettlement of ex-prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Home Office is working to develop an action plan on a National Rehabilitation Strategy. The plan will respond .to issues highlighted in the recent Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and Sentencing Enforcement Unit (SEU) reports and will draw on the experience and skills of a range of Departments and agencies working with vulnerable and excluded groups. Partnership between the prison service and national probation service will be important in the joint delivery of support to offenders both during and after custody and helping them to reintegrate successfully into the community on release.
	The National Probation Directorate (NPD) provides funding to several voluntary sector organisations, including the Society of Voluntary Associates (SOVA) and the National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO). Both NPD and the Prison Service work closely with partner agencies in the voluntary and not for profit sector to address offenders resettlement needs. Partnerships typically deliver services supporting offenders to access housing, prepare for and obtain employment and enter basic skills learning.

Grants

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the grants funded by his Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; and if he will make a statement as to (a) the total of such funding in the last financial year, (b) the total number of awards and (c) their administrative costs.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office has funded grants in 2001–02 for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply as follows:
	
		
			 Description of grant Expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 Refugee community development fund, 66 organisations awarded 350,000 
			 Refugee integration challenge fund, 20 projects 500,000 
			 European refugee fund (in calendar year 2000), approximately 5,400,000 
			 (For funding: voluntary return measures, reception of asylum seekers, and integration of refugees) 44 projects awarded in 2002. Purposeful activity for asylum seekers 35 awards 500,000 
			   
			 Active Community Units  
			 Capital modernisation grants (1 year only) 42 awards 7,800,000 
			 (To voluntary organisations for information technology and building projects; relocation or co-location (i.e. bringing various organisations under one roof) Mentoring project grants (£3.5 million over three years)) 38 awards 1,160,000 
			 Mentoring capital grants (one year only) 30 awards 500,000 
			 Active community grants (£5.1 million over three years) 34 awards 1,700,000 
			 Family support grant 90 grants 5,300,000 
			 The recovered assets fund, 2 awards 250,000 
			   
			 Race Equality Unit  
			 Connecting communities, 75 awards 4,151,467 
			 Easter schemes (community cohesion activity schemes), 9 awards 267,107 
			 Reduction of racial disadvantage grants, 12 awards 572,473 
			 Summer schemes (community cohesion activity schemes) 208 awards 7,000,000 
			 Drugs prevention advisory service, 155 awards 1,721,937 
			 Total costs 37,172,984 
		
	
	Information about associated administration costs is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the average time it will take to determine applications for leave to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage for non-fast track cases for applications made in October; and what the average time taken was in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: At present those marriage applications that cannot be dealt with on initial consideration can take approximately 12 months to decide. It is not possible to provide waiting times over the last five years, as records have not been kept. There have been exceptionally high numbers of applications throughout 2001 and continuing this year.
	Efforts are being made to reduce the 12 months taken to decide all applications (including marriage cases) and we are confident that the delays will be reduced to nine months in the New Year. This will be achieved by making use of additional resources in Sheffield where we have trained up to 40 caseworkers to decide marriage applications.

Immigration Removal and Detention Centres

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received during the last 12 months from the Chief Inspector of Prisons about immigration removal and detention centres; when he intends to respond to them; and if he will publish the reports and his responses.

Beverley Hughes: We have not received any reports during the last 12 months from the Chief Inspector of Prisons about immigration removal centres.
	Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) has, over the last few months, visited a number of immigration removal centres. However, no reports of these visits have yet been published or received.

Leave to Remain Applicants

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice applicants for leave to remain in the UK on the basis of marriage whose applications cannot be fast-tracked are given on how long their cases will take to determine; and what the basis is for this advice.

Beverley Hughes: A letter is sent to all applicants whose applications cannot be decided on initial consideration. It gives an estimate of how long they can expect to wait for a decision. This is based on the current waiting time for such cases and an estimate of what it is expected to be in future.

Offences on Bail

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been committed by defendants on (a) police bail and (b) bail from the court in each of the last three years.

John Denham: The information requested is not available centrally.

Passport Agency/Criminal Records Bureau

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to allow the same person to be, at the same time, the chief executive of the Passport Agency and of the Criminal Records Bureau.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 28 November 2002
	On the 15 February 1999 the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw), stated, in answer to a parliamentary question, that the Criminal Records Bureau would be established in Merseyside under the management of the United Kingdom Passport Agency.
	On 30 March 2001 the then Home Secretary confirmed, in answer to a further parliamentary question, that the combined organisation was to be established as the Passport and Records Agency and the new agency framework document was placed in the Library.

Police Training

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of new recruits who started the training course at the Hendon Police Training School completed that course satisfactorily in 2001; how many are still serving police officers one year after completion and what the figures were in 1997.

John Denham: holding answer 25 November 2002
	The Commissioner for the Metropolitan police informs me that the proportion of new recruits who satisfactorily completed their training at Hendon in 2001 was 90 per cent.; (a) of 1,625 officers who were recruited in 2001, 1,465 completed their training and 1,386 are still serving; (b) in 1997 the number of officers recruited was 1,035, of which 992 officers completed one years service.

Prisons

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has for the construction of new prisons over the next seven years, with reference to the latest population projection;
	(2)  how many prisoners are held in police cells; and what action is being taken to reduce this number.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The numbers held in police cells (under Operation Safeguard) peaked at 448 on the night of 29 October 2002. Since then, new prison accommodation has been brought into use and this, combined with a fall in prisoner numbers during November 2002, has enabled the Prison Service to reduce its use of police cells. By the night of 26 November 2002, the number of prisoners being held in police cells had fallen to 160.
	The Government have recently approved Prison Service plans for two new prisons, which will provide 1,290 places by 2004–05. The first is scheduled to open in the summer of 2004 at Ashford (near Heathrow), and will be a female prison of 450 places. An 840-place prison for 360 female and 480 male prisoners is scheduled to open at Peterborough in Cambridgeshire in the summer of 2005.
	In addition, the Government have recently announced that £60 million will be made available to provide 740 prison places at existing prisons by March 2004. This is in addition to funding from the 2002 Budget to provide an extra 2,320 places within existing prisons by the end of this financial year.

Probation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation service areas will (a) receive an increase in real terms in their budget for the next financial year, (b) receive the same budget as this year and (c) receive a reduction in their budget.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	All 24 Local Probation Boards will receive an increase in real terms in their budget for the next financial year.

Sussex Police

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of the total Sussex police force are from ethnic minorities working as (a) working time equivalents and (b) civilian support staff; and what plans he has to increase this number.

John Denham: holding answer 25 November 2002
	On 31 March 2002, the latest date for which figures are available there were 30 minority ethnic police officers in Sussex police. This represents 1.0 per cent. of the force's officer strength.
	On the same date there were 27 minority ethnic civilian support staff, 1.3 per cent. of support staff strength.
	Under the dismantling barriers initiative, each police force has a 10-year target indicating the size of the minority ethnic communities in their area and setting a figure for the overall increase in representation required given the current size of the force in order that the force is representative of the community it serves. The target for Sussex police by 2009 is 2.4 per cent.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many teaching staff in each of the prisons in the juvenile estate have qualifications in special needs education.

Hilary Benn: There are 50 members of staff in juvenile establishments who have special needs qualifications. Others have received in-service training in various aspects of special educational needs, including recent training for Basic Skills teachers teaching students with learning difficulties. Funding has been allocated to all establishments in the juvenile estate to employ a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), who assess the needs of learners and guide teachers and learning support assistants.
	The information is contained in the table.
	
		
			 Establishment SENCO SEN qualified staff 
		
		
			 Onley To appoint 0 
			 Bulwood Hall No 0 
			 Wetherby Yes 2 
			 Brinsford Yes 0 
			 Ashfield Yes 4 
			 Huntercombe Yes 4 
			 Warren Hill Yes 3 
			 New Hall(13) Yes 4 
			 Castington Yes 3 
			 Stoke Heath Yes 22 
			 Werrington Yes 1 
			 Lancaster Farms Yes 1 
			 Hindley(14) Yes 5 
			 Feltham Yes 1 
			 Total 12 50 
		
	
	(13) Few juveniles
	(14) Very recently received juveniles

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have attained (a) GCSEs, (b) AS levels and (c) A levels at each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000; how many qualifications they were each awarded; and at what grade.

Hilary Benn: Since April 2000, in juvenile establishments: (a) 279 candidates achieved 397 GSCE qualifications; (b) 10 candidates achieved 12 A/S level qualifications; and (c) three candidates achieved seven A level qualifications.
	The information in set out in the tables.
	
		(a) GCSEs
		
			 Young offender institutions GCSE candidates Total achieved GCSE grades ABCDEFG 
		
		
			 Onley 5 11 — 4 7 — — — — 
			 Bulwood Hall 0 — — — — — — — — 
			 Wetherby 94 30 — — 4 10 8 5 — 
			 Brinsford 0 0 — — — — — — — 
			 Ashfield 7 9 — 1 3 5 — — — 
			 Huntercombe 87 130 1 9 34 37 28 24 — 
			 Warren Hill 26 90 3 4 21 26 12 5 — 
			 New Hall 0 — — — — — — — — 
			 Castington 28 79 4 7 20 25 9 9 5 
			 Stoke Heath 3 8 — 2 — — — 3 1 
			 Werrington 0 — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancaster Farms 0 — — — — — — — — 
			 Hindley (recently received juveniles) 1 4 — — 1 2 1 — — 
			 Feltham 28 36 1 7 11 6 6 3 2 
			 Total 279 397 9 34 171 111 64 49 8 
		
	
	
		(b) AS levels
		
			 Young offender institutions AS level candidates Total achieved AS level grades ABCDEFG 
		
		
			 Warren Hill 10 12 — 1 2 5 4 — — 
			 Total 10 12 — 1 2 5 4 — — 
		
	
	
		(c) A levels
		
			 Young offender institutions A level candidates Total achieved A level grades ABCDEFG 
		
		
			 Onley 1 3 — 1 1 1 — — — 
			 Castington 2 4 — 1 1 2 — — — 
			 Total 3 7 — 2 2 3 — — —

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been locked out of prisons overnight in the last 12 months; at which prisons; and at which police stations they were held.

Hilary Benn: The information is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a limit to the time a child can be held on a basic regime in prison.

Hilary Benn: The Operational Manager for the Juvenile Estate has made it clear to Governors of juvenile establishments that the basic regime must be used constructively as an incentive to responsible behaviour. Governors are expected to keep a juvenile on the basic regime for the shortest period possible, and normally not for longer than one week, at which time the case must be reviewed.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) section 17 assessments and (b) section 47 investigations under the Children Act 1989 have been carried out on children in each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young prisoners have been subjected to restraint under rule 52 of the Rules for Young Offenders Institutions since April 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times unfurnished cells have been used in each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times control and restraint was used in each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was that children in each of the prisons in the juvenile estate spent out of doors every day in 2001–02.

Hilary Benn: The information is not held centrally and I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been transferred to HMP and YOI Castington from Feltham YOI in each of the last 12 months; and what their (a) ethnicity, (b) age and (c) home area in each case was.

Hilary Benn: In the last 12 months 28 young people have been transferred from Feltham young offender institution to Castington prison and young offender institution. The breakdown of these figures is as follows:
	April 2002
	
		
			 Age Home Area Ethnicity 
		
		
			 15 Sutton White English 
			 16 West Sussex Black Caribbean 
			 17 Waltham Forest Black Caribbean 
			 17 Harringey White English 
			 17 Bexley White English 
			 17 Wandsworth White English 
			 17 Lemington Spa White English 
			 18 Essex Pakistani 
		
	
	Total number transferred = 8
	July 2002
	
		
			 Age Home Area Ethnicity 
		
		
			 16 Haringey Black Caribbean 
			 17 Kent White English 
			 18 Chingford White English 
			 18 Uxbridge White English 
			 18 Kensington Black African 
			 18 East Sussex White English 
		
	
	Total number transferred = 6
	August 2002
	
		
			 Age Home Area Ethnicity 
		
		
			 15 Not available White English 
			 16 Haringey Black Caribbean 
			 17 Crawley White English 
			 18 West Sussex Black African 
		
	
	Total number transferred = 4
	October 2002
	
		
			 Age Home Area Ethnicity 
		
		
			 17 Brent Black African 
			 17 Haringey Black African 
			 17 London Black Other 
			 17 Barnet White English 
			 18 Enfield White Irish 
			 18 Southwark Black African 
			 18 Newham Black Caribbean 
			 18 Surrey White English 
			 18 Enfield White English 
			 18 Thameside Other ethnic group 
		
	
	Total number transferred = 10

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academic Staff (Assessment)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the data from the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise relating to individual academic staff.

Margaret Hodge: The available data from the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise have been published by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE), and can be obtained from the Higher Education and Research Opportunities website at www.hero.ac.uk/rae/.

Cost Saving

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the cost savings that could be achieved by allowing private institutions to run courses leading to an award or a degree.

Margaret Hodge: There has been no such assessment. There are currently around 125 private organisations already running courses leading to a degree awarded by a recommended UK degree awarding body.

Criminal Records Bureau

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when further guidance will be issued to registered bodies about the postponement of Criminal Records Bureau checks.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	My Department wrote to local education authorities last week about the need to manage demand for CRB Disclosures. The letter advised authorities that, for the time being, CRB checks should not be sought for school governors.
	It also provided further advice about checking school volunteers and confirmed that the arrangements we put in place in September to enable staff and volunteers in schools to start work in advance of receiving a CRB Disclosure at the discretion of the head teacher will continue until the Secretary of State is satisfied that the CRB is reliably providing a service that meets the needs of the education service.
	Parallel guidance is being sent to all schools next week.

Degrees

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to allow private organisations to award degrees.

Margaret Hodge: Section 76 of the FHE Act 1992 allows the Privy Council to specify any institution offering higher education as competent to grant degrees. Institutions are required to meet specific criteria, as set out by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, before degree awarding powers are granted. Any institution which believes it fulfils the relevant criteria is eligible to apply to the Privy Council, including private organisations. There are currently two private institutions that have secured degree-awarding powers: University of Buckingham and Henley Management College.

Departmental Staff

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reasons underlay the change in the number of staff employed by his Department between (a) 1996 and 1997 and (b) 2001 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The merger of the Department for Education and the Employment Department Group to form the Department for Education and Employment in 1995 led to substantial savings in support service jobs as the new departmental structure rolled out over the following two years. Between April 1996 and March 1997 the Department managed the voluntary early release of 542 staff.
	Machinery of Government changes following the General Election in 2001 transferred responsibility for the employment portfolio away from the newly created Department for Education and Skills. As a result some 700 staff moved to one of the four Departments which now share that responsibility: the Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office, the Department for Trade and Industry and Cabinet Office.

Education Provision (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire through the Standards Fund in 2001–02 on class size reduction.

David Miliband: In 2001–02 Buckinghamshire local education authority was allocated £2.3 million revenue and £0.8 million capital, to reduce infant class sizes for 5, 6 and 7-year-olds to 30 or fewer. In the constituency of Chesham and Amersham £0.2 million was allocated to schools to meet the limit. I should point out that not all schools have received funding to meet the pledge.

Education Provision (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of classroom teachers are on the top of the main scale or have progressed through the upper pay spine in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire.

David Miliband: The following table shows the latest available teacher data for Buckinghamshire. It is too early to provide data on teachers progressing to point two of the upper pay scale. The information is only available at LEA level.
	
		Percentage(15) of qualified classroom teachers on point nine of the main pay scale and the post-threshold scale as at 31 March 2001 (provisional)(16)—Maintained schools sector
		
			 Buckinghamshire  
		
		
			 Main scale point 9 24.8 
			 Upper pay scale 35.2 
			 Not known(17) 4.9 
		
	
	(15) Percentage is based on all classroom teachers including advanced skills teachers
	(16) The data are provisional and may understate the percentage of teachers who had passed through to the upper pay scales
	(17) Following changes to the pay system in September 2000, an unusually high number of teachers were shown with a spine point of 'not known'. The majority of these teachers are expected to be on either spine point nine or the post-threshold scale

Exclusion Units

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have established total exclusion units to take pupils who have been permanently excluded from their schools.

Stephen Twigg: Currently, 139 of the 150 local education authorities, including Barnsley LEA, have Pupil Referral Units, which are used in the education of permanently excluded pupils.

Further Education Lecturers

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average salary of further education lecturers on permanent contract was, and what the average hourly rate of pay to sessional staff was, in each of the past five years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Department does not collect pay information disaggregated by the contract status of further education (FE) lecturers or about the average hourly rate of sessional staff. Figures for the average salary of full-time lecturers over the last five years for which we have published information are given in the table.
	
		(£) 
		
			 March 1996 March 1997 March 1998 March 1999 March 2000 
		
		
			 23,240 23,720 24,160 24,940 25,760

Further Education Lecturers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there is a guaranteed minimum wage level for lecturers of further education or higher education courses; and what proportions of lecturers are employed on the bottom of the pay scale.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Individual FE colleges and HE institutions determine, within the context of current employment legislation, their own pay rates according to local needs and priorities.
	The Association of Colleges, the Sixth Form Colleges' Employers' Forum and the Universities' and Colleges' Employers' Association publish recommended pay awards and pay scales for further and higher education lecturers following annual negotiations with their representative trade union bodies.
	The Department does not collect information about the proportion of lecturers in FE or HE who are employed on the bottom of the pay scales.

Geographical Knowledge

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on geographical knowledge among schoolchildren; and what measures are planned to improve this.

Stephen Twigg: As part of the National Curriculum, all pupils aged five to 14 are required to study geography.
	Pupils are taught geographical enquiry skills, leading to the development of knowledge and understanding of places, patterns and processes, both in the UK and the wider world. They develop an understanding of maps, atlases and globes and how to use them effectively.

Graduate Incomes

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the total taxation paid over the average working life of (a) graduates and (b) non-graduates.

Margaret Hodge: holding reply 25 November 2002
	Using earnings data from the Labour Force Survey over the four quarters autumn 2000 to summer 2001, we estimate that graduates whose highest qualification is a first degree could pay on average around £200,000 in income tax over a working life. This figure relates to Great Britain. The equivalent figure for graduates and non-graduates, collectively, is around £120,000. Lifetime income taxation for only non-graduates would be significantly lower than this figure.

Graduate Incomes

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the average income of graduates over their working lives compared to the average income this same group would have earned had they not obtained a higher education qualification.

Margaret Hodge: holding reply 25 November 2002
	The information requested is not available.
	Numerous academic studies have attempted to estimate the average percentage increase in hourly or weekly earnings attributable to having various higher education qualifications. These studies control for a range of factors that affect earnings, other than having a HE qualification—such as age, gender, prior educational attainment—although they do vary in the extent to which other influential factors are taken into account. The studies do not tell us exactly what a particular graduate would have earned had they not have obtained a higher education qualification. We can only observe one reality for any individual—i.e. their actual earnings given that they did get a HE qualification. However, they do provide the closest estimates that we can get of the earnings they could have had.
	There is, unsurprisingly, some variation in the results of these studies, indicating that the increase in earnings from having a first degree compared to two or more A-levels is in the range of around 20–30 per cent.

Graduates

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the results of cost-benefit studies undertaken by his Department in the last five years which show the value of its graduate labour force.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The cost-benefit studies we have undertaken relate to the private and social rates of return to a degree. Private rates of return compare the costs and benefits of higher education to individuals, including their contribution towards course costs and post-tax earnings benefits. Social rates of return include these private costs and benefits, but also take into account the costs and benefits to society as a whole. Social rates of return estimate the value to the economy of investment in higher education by, broadly, expressing the net increase in national output relative to the resource cost of the higher education courses. The increase in national output is proxied by the difference in graduates' pre-tax earnings compared to those with only two or more A levels, after taking into account non-wage labour costs, which also reflect the value associated with employing a graduate.
	The table provides the results of the studies undertaken in the last five or so years. They show that social rates of return have held up, with current estimates around 8–10 per cent.
	Private rates of return to a first degree are higher than social rates. This is primarily because individuals contribute only partially to the costs, but also because social rates are likely to be under-estimates because they exclude social benefits that are difficult to quantify in financial terms, such as health benefits, longer life expectancy, lower infant mortality and reduced crime.
	
		Private and social rates of return to a first degree -- Percentage
		
			   Current estimates: social Dearing estimates: social Dearing estimates: private 
		
		
			 Entrants aged 18 Men and women 9–11 (18)— (18)— 
			  Men 8–10 7–9 11–13 
			  Women 10–12 (18)— (18)— 
			 Entrants all ages Men and women 8–10 7–9 11–14 
			  Men 6–8 6–8 9–11 
			  Women 9–12 8–10 14–17 
		
	
	(18) Not estimated.
	Notes:
	1. Dearing estimates are based on General Household Survey data for 1989–1995.
	2. Current estimates are based on Labour Force Survey data for 1998.
	3. The lower figures in each cell assume that only 60 per cent. of the difference in graduate and A level earnings is specifically attributable to having a degree, and the higher figures assume 80 per cent.—the remaining proportion assumed to be attributable to other factors, such as innate ability.

Higher Education Entrants

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children whose fathers are coal miners or former coal miners entered higher education in each year since 1997; and how this compares with the national average.

Margaret Hodge: The available information, showing participation by young people in higher education for each of the standard social class categories, is shown in the following table. Participation rates for individual occupations within these categories are not held centrally. There was an increase in entrant numbers in 1997 related partly to the funding arrangements for higher education, with students choosing to enter HE rather than wait until 1998. There was a corresponding reduction in 1998 before the entry rates started to increase again in 1999.
	The Government is committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent family backgrounds, and has introduced Excellence Challenge, including the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.
	
		Age Participation Index (API)(19) by social class Great Britain
		
			 Per cen.t entering HE in academic year beginning 
			 Social class 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 I Professional 79 72 73 76 
			 II Intermediate 48 45 45 48 
			 IIIN Skilled non manual 31 29 30 33 
			 HIM Skilled Manual 19 18 18 19 
			 IV Partly skilled 18 17 17 19 
			 V Unskilled 14 13 13 14 
			 I —IIIN 48 45 45 48 
			 IIIM—V 18 17 17 18 
			 All classes 33 31 32 33 
		
	
	(19) The API is defined as the number of GB domiciled initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate HEaged under 21, expressed as a percentage of the average number of 18 and 19 year olds in the population.

Pupil Exclusions

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many units there are to deal with excluded pupils aged under 11 in (a) Kent, (b) East Kent education division, (c) Sittingbourne and (d) Sheppey; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Currently, in Kent there is one Dedicated Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) for Key Stage 1 and 2, and five others with provision for Key Stage 1 and 2. These include 1 PRU in East Kent with provision for Key Stages 1 and 2. There are no PRUs with such provision in either Sittingbourne or Sheppey.
	The Department is aware of the challenging circumstances in East Kent, and is liaising closely with the Authority to ensure that every excluded child receives an education. Kent has indicated to the Department that every permanently excluded child is currently receiving a suitable, full time education.

School Federations

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many expressions of interest in forming school federations have been received by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	We have received 42 expressions of interest to date. Federations have been discussed at a series of conferences across England running from October to December 2002, to which all secondary heads have been invited. The response from these conferences has been very positive.

Teaching Vacancies

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching vacancies there were in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the past five years in each London borough.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The table shows the numbers of vacancies 1 in maintained schools in London as at January of each year.
	
		
			   1998  1999  2000  
			  Nursery/primary Secondary Nursery/primary Secondary Nursery/primary Secondary 
		
		
			 City of London 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Camden 12 2 21 8 17 13 
			 Greenwich 31 22 52 9 16 14 
			 Hackney 51 9 38 30 47 22 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 35 12 15 8 14 8 
			 Islington 27 15 10 3 20 11 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 17 3 3 6 3 2 
			 Lambeth 6 6 46 12 36 12 
			 Lewisham 31 18 21 8 18 20 
			 Southwark 54 6 47 14 42 30 
			 Tower Hamlets 52 13 80 12 71 26 
			 Wandsworth 29 5 17 12 13 10 
			 City of Westminster 13 4 14 11 15 14 
			 Barking and Dagenham 10 7 12 3 8 9 
			 Barnet 8 14 11 21 29 20 
			 Bexley 1 5 0 7 13 16 
			 Brent 20 8 13 17 5 5 
			 Bromley 11 4 6 7 9 3 
			 Croydon 8 5 25 11 8 28 
			 Ealing 17 30 32 22 14 18 
			 Enfield 11 6 19 9 13 15 
			 Haringey 20 10 20 13 19 14 
			 Harrow 9 2 12 5 24 14 
			 Havering 0 15 3 10 1 17 
			 Hillingdon 15 13 8 19 9 14 
			 Hounslow 8 14 5 10 3 5 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5 1 6 3 1 7 
			 Merton 7 0 5 6 3 13 
			 Newham 61 21 34 3 40 14 
			 Redbridge 7 10 7 7 6 1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 1 2 2 3 12 
			 Sutton 4 5 2 5 0 1 
			 Waltham Forest 43 4 2 5 0 4 
		
	
	
		
			   2001  2002  
			  Nursery/primary Secondary Nursery/primary Secondary 
		
		
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden 30 27 13 16 
			 Greenwich 22 39 23 36 
			 Hackney 51 45 21 38 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 15 28 37 44 
			 Islington 38 13 17 20 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 19 16 2 5 
			 Lambeth 35 10 32 19 
			 Lewisham 33 35 36 23 
			 Southwark 62 33 13 8 
			 Tower Hamlets 96 55 66 13 
			 Wandsworth 22 25 18 24 
			 City of Westminster 35 12 10 15 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13 10 0 5 
			 Barnet 55 41 26 15 
			 Bexley 35 47 5 42 
			 Brent 8 15 21 27 
			 Bromley 26 35 10 19 
			 Croydon 29 46 13 28 
			 Ealing 13 53 21 19 
			 Enfield 29 33 27 33 
			 Haringey 22 19 30 26 
			 Harrow 32 24 29 23 
			 Havering 0 38 6 10 
			 Hillingdon 16 30 27 24 
			 Hounslow 4 14 19 52 
			 Kingston upon Thames 9 12 3 12 
			 Merton 2 11 7 6 
			 Newham 52 49 26 16 
			 Redbridge 9 31 4 6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9 18 6 19 
			 Sutton 0 10 4 15 
			 Waltham Forest 0 7 24 17 
		
	
	(20) Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term). Includes vacancies filled on a temporary basis for less than one term.

Top-up Fees

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the cross-subsidy effect top-up fees for higher education would have between high cost degree courses and lower cost degree courses.

Margaret Hodge: We have announced our intention to publish in January a strategy document setting out our vision for the development and reform of higher education, including the outcome of the review of student support. It would not be right to say now exactly what options we are considering or what analyses we have undertaken.

University Merger (London)

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 96W, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department were consulted about the proposal to merge Imperial College and University College, London.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Neither Ministers nor officials were consulted. The Provost of University College and the Rector of Imperial College sent me a letter on the day they announced their proposals, informing me of their plans.

WALES

Business Start-ups

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with colleagues in the National Assembly of Wales on new business start-ups.

Peter Hain: I regularly meet with colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales and discuss a range of issues including new business start-ups.
	Figures from the Welsh Development Agency show that initiatives launched by the National Assembly for Wales are already producing increases in business start ups in Wales. In the first half of the year more than 2,000 new businesses have been created in Wales with WDA assistance, an increase of over 60 per cent. compared with the same period last year. The new lending body XFinance Wales" has already injected £17.8 million into 72 new or expanding companies, and 2002–03 is a record year for RSA offers in Wales. It should bring in £623 million investment from 270 projects and create or safeguard 13,100 jobs.

Ministerial Visits

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to visit Brussels and Strasbourg in an official capacity.

Peter Hain: On present plans, I shall be attending the Convention on the Future of Europe Working Group on External Relations in Brussels on 3–4 December. Subject to my commitments as Secretary of State for Wales, I will attend the plenary sessions of the convention, which are expected to be held twice a month in Brussels until the convention ends in June.
	During these visits to Brussels, I also intend to take every advantage of opportunities to pursue Welsh business.
	I have no plans to visit Strasbourg at present.

WORK AND PENSIONS

25 Plus New Deal

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants have participated on the 25 Plus New Deal on (a) more than one, (b) more than two and (c) more than three occasions.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	At September 2002, 534,600 people had started on the New Deal 25 plus (402,340 individuals). Of these 102,820 clients (26 per cent. of all individual starters) have entered the programme more than once, 25,830 (6 per cent. of all individual starters) have entered the programme more than twice and 3,500 (1 per cent. of all individual starters) have entered the programme more than three times.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database.

Departmental Training Weekends

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department have taken part in training weekends in the past 12 months; and at what cost (a) in total and (b) per person on average.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Funerals

Bill Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will remove parochial fees from his Department's funeral fund payments and treat the fees for a religious service in line with other disbursements;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the range of parochial fees charged for funerals.

Malcolm Wicks: We are committed to providing a payment for a respectful funeral to people receiving income-related benefits or tax credits who have good reason for organising the funeral.
	Social Fund funeral payments cover in full the cost of certain necessary, specified charges including fees levied by burial authorities and crematoria. Not everyone wishes to use, or is required to pay for, the services of a minister of religion or other religious fees. However, up to £600 is allowed for other funeral expenses, which gives the person arranging the funeral the freedom to select the items or services they consider appropriate. On 27 November, we announced that from next April this amount will rise to £700.
	The Department does not hold information on the range of parochial fees charged for funerals and we have no plans to include fees for a religious service among the charges specified in regulations. However, we will continue to keep the level of support provided for funeral costs under review.

New Deal

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of the New Deal for Young People in areas with the lowest success rates.

Nick Brown: The New Deal has helped over 380,000 young people move into work throughout the country.
	We are building on the programme's success, focusing more help on the most disadvantaged unemployed people in the most deprived areas of the country. We are, for example: introducing StepUP pilots in 20 deprived areas to provide transitional jobs for people who remain unemployed after the New Deal; starting to roll out the second phase of progress2work, providing recovering drug misusers with the extra help they need to move into work; running the Minority Ethnic Outreach programme in wards within five areas to strengthen the support available to jobless people from minority ethnic communities; and starting pilots in nine areas giving extra support for other disadvantaged groups such as ex-offenders, alcohol misusers and homeless people.
	In addition, Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones are operating in areas with persistently high levels of unemployment, and have so far helped nearly 78,000 people into work. We are currently developing proposals to extend Employment Zone help to other client groups including New Deal returners.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what research his Department has undertaken into the sustainability of employment under the New Deal; and if he will place it in the Library;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the sustainability of employment under the New Deal.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The New Deals have already helped nearly three-quarters of a million people move into work, the vast majority of whom have entered sustained jobs. For example, up to September 2002, nearly 80 per cent. of people moving into work through the New Deal for Young People and the New Deal 25 plus entered sustained jobs.
	We have in place a wide-ranging programme of evaluation of the New Deals. This evaluation examines the benefits that the New Deals are providing, including the sustainability of employment. Evaluation reports are placed are placed in the Library as they are published.
	Information on the number of people moving into sustained jobs through the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus are published quarterly in the Statistical First Release. These are also placed in the Library as they are published.

New Deal for Lone Parents

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, refence 83513, on the New Deal for Lone Parents, 
	(1)  how many of the 152,230 lone parents referred to had previously entered the New Deal gateway (a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, reference 83513, on the New Deal for Lone Parents, how many lone parents have found work on the New Deal for Lone Parents, disregarding lone parents who had entered the New Deal gateway on a previous occasion.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The figure of 152,230 provided in my previous answer is the number of individual lone parents who had found work through the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) by the end of June 2002. 28,310 of these lone parents (18.6 per cent. of those who have found a job) had been on NDLP twice, and 5,550 (3.6 per cent. of those who have found a job) had been on NDLP three or more times. Some of these lone parents have used the programme successfully on a previous occasion, as the total number of jobs obtained through NDLP by June 2002 was 172,460.

Post Office Card Accounts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the timetable for the advertising campaign for the Post Office Card Account applications; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The Department for Work and Pensions will be converting people to direct payment over a two-year period, with the first payments going into accounts in April 2003. An information campaign will support the conversion.
	Informing people about the availability of the Post Office card account is part of this campaign rather than a separate advertising initiative. We need to ensure that people are aware of the range of options open to them, and in a position to choose what is appropriate and convenient for them. Our information campaign will take customers through the changes, including getting their money from their account at the Post Office and the availability of the Post Office card account.
	There will be two main elements to our campaign. Customers will be supplied directly with information, which clearly sets out their Xaccount options" and enables them to decide which account is right for them. Customers do not need to take any action until they receive a letter about the change. Until then they can keep their order book or giro.
	In addition, we plan to make more general information available and also undertake some advertising. This activity will be timed to coincide with the build up of the number of people transferring to direct payment into accounts. Again, this activity will include reference to all of the Xaccount options" including the Post Office card account.
	The Government and Post Office Limited are working together to ensure that front-line Post Office staff have all the information they need to answer any questions from customers about banking facilities in Post Office branches.
	The first invitation letters asking for account details started to go out to some Child Benefit customers at the end of October, other customers will be contacted in due course. The Veterans Agency started writing to its customers in early October.
	The Post Office plan to have their card account service available from April 2003. The banks' own basic bank accounts are scheduled to become available through Post Office branches at the same time.
	Since many people will rely on the card account to collect their benefit, pension or tax credit, it is essential that the systems supporting the card account are reliable and robust. The Post Office are carrying out extensive testing of systems, and also intend to undertake some piloting work in advance of April 2003.
	In line with good practice, and in order to minimise risk, the intention is gradually to build up (starting from April 2003) the number of benefit customers and pensioners that we pay through the Post Office card account. As the system proves itself in live running, we will increase the number of people paid through the card account. And, at an appropriate time, those new tax credit customers who have asked for a Post Office card account will start to have their payment made in this way. In the intervening period, Tax Credit customers opting for a card account will be paid by giro and DWP customers by order book or giro as appropriate.

Rehabilitation Services

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to improve vocational rehabilitation services; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: Improved vocational rehabilitation services are key to our strategy for enabling people with health problems and disabilities to move into employment, and so become and remain independent.
	Jobcentre Plus, in partnership with the NHS, has already tested work-focused rehabilitation programmes in Salford and Bristol. The programmes provided integrated support to enable people with chronic back pain to return to work. Trials finished in 2001, with many participants finding work as a result.
	Building on this partnership approach, our new Green Paper XPathways to Work—Helping people into employment", published on 18 November, proposes the establishment of groundbreaking rehabilitation programmes. These will be piloted in six areas across the country starting from late 2003, combining support to find jobs with health-focused rehabilitation.
	The programmes will be complementary to any clinical care already being provided by primary care and community services in pilot areas. Their key focus will be to help those with conditions such as depression, back pain and heart disease understand the impact that their condition has and increase their confidence to work or train and lead as normal a life as possible.
	In addition, the Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot Project, a joint initiative with the Department of Health, is currently exploring ways in which we can support people faced with losing their employment through prolonged sickness or disability. The pilot will run from early 2003 to 2005, and will aim to provide robust evidence about the relative impact of three intervention strategies (boosting healthp are, boosting workplace support and a combined approach) in helping people to return to work.

Staff Training

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been spent on staff training in his Department in the past 12 months; and how many staff took part.

Ian McCartney: During the 12 month period ending March 2002, the most recent year for which these data are available, the Department spent £97.3 million on staff training and development. This equates to an average of just under £800 for each of the approximately 123,000 staff in the Department.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Websites

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what Government Departments have bought into the new design for departmental websites.

Douglas Alexander: There is no single design for departmental websites. XThe Guidelines for UK Government Websites", published in June this year, set out the standards for Government Departments to follow. This document includes 10 design guidelines, ranging from content, usability and delivering services for the citizen.

Genetic Modification (Scientific Panel)

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the membership of the scientific panel established by the Strategy Unit to consider the issue of genetic modification is; and which members have undertaken work for the biotechnology industry.

Douglas Alexander: The Strategy Unit is not responsible for the appointment of the scientific panel that has been asked to consider the science of genetic modification. This is being handled by the Office of Science and Technology, which is part of the Department of Trade and Industry.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the last census of the Afghan population was; and what discussions are taking place on the question of a new one.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The most recent estimate of the Afghan population by the World bank in 2001 was 26.6 million with a further 2.2 million refugees in Pakistan and 1.5 million in Iran.
	There has not been a census in Afghanistan since 1963. The UN began work on one in October but it is likely to take five years to complete.

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to register Afghan adults so as to ensure universal suffrage in future elections.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	There is currently no electoral register of Afghan adults. We are considering ways in which we can work with the UN to assist the Afghan Transitional Administration to prepare for the elections, due in mid-2004.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Magistrates Courts (Fines)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many fine defaulters were imprisoned by Inner London magistrates courts in each of the past three years.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of fine defaulters imprisoned by Inner London magistrates courts was 99 in 1999; 58 in 2000; and 42 in 2001.

Wasted Costs

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what powers courts have to make a 'wasted costs' order.

Rosie Winterton: Section 19A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 enables the court, in criminal proceedings, to disallow or order the legal or other representative to meet the whole or any part of the 'wasted costs' incurred by a party as a result of any improper, unreasonable or negligent act or omission on the part of any representative or his employee.
	In civil proceedings, an equivalent power rests in Section 51 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 which provides that the costs of proceedings are in the discretion of the court, subject to any enactment, or rules of court. Rule 44.14 of the Civil Procedure Rules provides the court with the power to make an order for 'wasted' costs against the party or his legal representative where they have failed to comply with a rule, practice direction or court order or where their conduct at any point in proceedings was unreasonable or improper.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Employment Tribunals

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the funding for conducting fair employment cases through the tribunal system will be introduced.

Des Browne: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has powers to provide assistance 1998 to complainants under the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order. Similar powers for the Equality Commission to provide assistance exist in the sex discrimination, race relations and disability legislation. Decisions on whether to assist a particular case are a matter for the Equality Commission.

Fair Employment Commission

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have approached the Fair Employment Commission in each of the last five years; how many cases were taken on by the Fair Employment Commission in each year; how much compensation was paid out by the Fair Employment Commission in each year; how much money was invested in the construction of the new Fair Employment Commission headquarters; and what assessment he has made of whether the Fair Employment Commission has sufficient funding to fulfil its obligations in the current year.

Des Browne: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland was established on 1 October 1999. It assumed the functions of the former Fair Employment Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Disability Council. It also has additional functions in relation to disability discrimination and the duties on public authorities under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.
	The following table provides the number of inquiries made on Fair Employment issues and the number of cases supported by the Fair Employment Commission/Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
	
		Inquiries on Fair Employment issues and Cases Supported by the Fair Employment Commission and Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
		
			 Year Inquiries Cases supported 
		
		
			 1998–99 (FEC) 1,813 144 
			 1999–2000 (FEC and ECNI) 1,296 123 
			 2000–01 (ECNI) 1,106 142 
			 2001–02 (ECNI) 901 289 
			 2002–03(21)(ECNI) 304 (22)13  
		
	
	(21) For the period up to end November 2002.
	(22) Applications for legal support across all grounds, received between April and July 2002, were not processed pending the development of a revised Legal Enforcement Policy and Assistance Strategy. These cases are now being processed by ECNI.
	Neither the Equality Commission, nor its predecessor, the Fair Employment Commission, is empowered to pay compensation and therefore none was paid. The Equality Commission is a tenant in Equality House. The building is rented under a 10-year lease agreement. The interior fit out of the building cost £1,570,701.98 (excluding VAT) and this cost is rentalised to the Commission over a 10-year period. The Equality Commission's budget for the current financial year was £6.7 million. Resourcing the Commission is kept under review and it has recently been awarded an increase of £113,000 for new activities.

Fire Service

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on how the employers' side of the negotiating machinery for the Fire Service of Northern Ireland (a) is mandated and (b) formulates its negotiating positions at the time of pay and service conditions bargaining.

Des Browne: The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland appoints two members to represent it on the National Joint Council (NJC) for local authorities' fire brigades. They take their mandate from the authority, and are subject to reappointment annually.
	The authority formulates its negotiating positions in consultation with the NJC employers' side, which also includes representatives of the fire authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Firefighters' Dispute

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the additional sum which would be required in Northern Ireland to satisfy the pay increase demands of firefighters in the province.

Des Browne: To meet the Fire Brigades Union demand for a 40 per cent. rise in pay for firefighters would result in a £14 million increase in the annual pay bill and an immediate increase in pension liability of £40 million for the Fire Service in Northern Ireland.

Irish Fertiliser Industries

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place between Government departments and the owners of the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast over the announcement of the plant's closure.

Ian Pearson: The owners of Irish Fertiliser Industries are ICI and the Irish Government. Since the announcement of the company's closure on 15 October I have exchanged correspondence with Mary Harney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in the Republic of Ireland, and with the Chief Executive of ICI. I also met the ICI Chief Executive and an official representative of the Irish Government in London on 28 November. My objective throughout these contacts has been to stress the need to treat the Belfast employees fairly.

Irish Fertiliser Industries

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations have been made by the Government to the Government of the Irish Republic in respect of its involvement in the decision to close the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast.

Ian Pearson: The decision to close Irish Fertiliser Industries was taken by the Irish Government and ICI, the owners of the company. Since the closure announcement on 15 October, I have written to Mary Harney TD, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, stressing the importance of treating the employees in a fair and equitable manner. I have also met with an official representative of the Irish Government, along with the Chief Executive of ICI, and discussed my concerns with them in detail.

Princess Victoria

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals the Northern Ireland Office has to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Princess Victoria off the coast of County Antrim.

Angela Smith: The Department for Regional Development has agreed outline arrangements for a small commemorative event at Donaghadee Harbour where survivors were landed by the local lifeboat. Ards borough council will erect a memorial plaque adjacent to the RNLI berth and the Department plans to erect a flagpole resembling the foremast of the MV Princess Victoria. These events will complement local church services, the laying of wreaths at sea by the Donaghadee and Campbeltown lifeboats and a commemorative event planned by Larne borough council, Larne being the port to which the MV Princess Victoria was steaming when she sank.

Social Housing

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many of the new social housing units projected for this financial year have been constructed; and when the rest will be constructed;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the new build social housing programme for 2002–03.

Des Browne: Given that both questions relate to the new build social housing programme, I shall answer them together.
	For the current year, my Department has a programme for Government commitment to fund housing associations to start 1,400 new social houses. However, that target has now been revised to 1,200. The 200 houses that have been deferred will start in the first quarter of the next financial year.
	To date, 266 new homes have started on site. The remaining 934 will start between now and 31 March 2003. The reduction in the number of starts this year can be attributed to:
	the need to allocate additional funding to other housing activity, for example, the Northern Ireland co-ownership scheme which is attracting a higher number of applicants than anticipated;
	the planning moratorium that was in place earlier in the year which has delayed several schemes;
	difficulties in acquiring sites and delays in processing planning applications; and
	trouble at interface areas in Belfast which has had an adverse affect on previously agreed start dates.
	New procedures, to be introduced for 2003–04, will help address some of these problems enabling targets for future programmes to be met.

Suicides

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the suicide rate in north and west Belfast.

Des Browne: I am concerned at the number of suicides in North and West Belfast. The North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust has developed a strategy for positive mental health promotion and suicide prevention which was launched in 1999. The Trust has appointed a suicide awareness co-ordinator who is working with a wide range of community and statutory agencies to provide information, training and support. In addition the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety will be issuing a mental health promotion strategy and action plan early in the New Year which will include a separate section on suicide prevention.

Vacant Properties

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to prevent vacant properties in Northern Ireland falling into decay and dereliction.

Des Browne: The existence of empty property can be symptomatic of an underlying and complex interaction of wider social problems, including urban and rural decay, unemployment, crime and vandalism, anti-social behaviour etc. Solutions, therefore, are not just about good housing management, but require more complex strategies and inter-agency initiatives. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, as the comprehensive regional housing authority for Northern Ireland, has put in place a number of measures to address the problem of empty homes in the public and private sectors throughout the province.
	Local strategies have already been implemented to address the range of problems occurring in difficult to let areas. The Housing Executive's existing action plan has been progressed as follows:
	Estate strategies involving improvement, sale and/or selective demolition have been put in place for numerous estates (currently 1,500 public sector properties are scheduled for demolition).
	The general over-supply problems of the 'new towns' growth centres (Craigavon, Antrim, Ballymena) have been systematically addressed and improved although further work is required.
	Demolition and environmental improvement works at interfaces where feasible.
	Urban renewal programmes in private areas involving improvement, replacement or a combination.
	Grant aid including group repair schemes in some private areas exhibiting signs of decline.
	Marketing, community safety and anti-blight measures in public sector estates including use of alarm systems, the appointment of neighbourhood wardens and other security measures. Improvement or demolition of unpopular, non-traditional housing including decapitation (partial demolition); privatisation and more intensive management eg concierge.
	The emergence of a number of locations as existing or potential over-supply areas have been under investigation and individual estate strategies have been and are being brought forward.
	In addition, legislation is proposed that will provide for the introduction of a shorthold tenancy, to be managed by the housing associations. This is designed to allow vacant properties to be let for short periods where owners are reluctant to let for longer terms.

Vacant Properties

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of empty dwellings in Northern Ireland (a) in Belfast, (b) in Derry and (c) outside Belfast and Derry, broken down by (i) county and (ii) district council areas.

Des Browne: Figures from the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2001 are currently being validated and will be published by the Northern Ireland housing executive early in 2003. The survey will provide up-to-date figures on the number of empty dwellings in Northern Ireland across all tenures.
	In relation to the housing executive's own stock the following table sets out the position at August 2002. The figures include properties vested for demolition in urban renewal areas.
	
		
			 District council area Long term(23) Pending demolition(24) 
		
		
			 Belfast 379 1,257 
			 North Down 5 74 
			 Ards 3 41 
			 Castlereagh 14 51 
			 Lisburn 0 45 
			 Down 0 1 
			 Banbridge 4 14 
			 Newry and Mourne 24 58 
			 Armagh 46 12 
			 Craigavon 194 144 
			 Dungannon 105 4 
			 Fermanagh 14 0 
			 Ballymena 47 127 
			 Antrim 0 20 
			 Newtownabbey 42 79 
			 Carrick 28 136 
			 Larne 135 92 
			 Moyle 1 5 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 
			 Coleraine 85 93 
			 Derry 16 7 
			 Limavady 0 0 
			 Magherafelt 17 0 
			 Strabane 21 2 
			 Omagh 123 3 
			 Cookstown 19 0 
			 Total 1,322 2,265 
		
	
	(23) Long term voids are dwellings which are difficult to let due to lack of demand.
	Included within this category are dwellings which have been secured to prevent
	vandalism and properties that have been fire damaged.
	(24) Voids pending demolition are properties located in redevelopment areas or purpose built stock which have received housing executive board approval to be demolished.

HEALTH

Drug Addiction Programmes

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated on average waiting times for admission to (a) state-supported methadone programmes and (b) state-supported programmes aimed at overcoming heroin addiction that do not involve the prescription of methadone.

Hazel Blears: This information is not available in the format requested. The table below provides waiting time figures collected by the national treatment agency in December 2001, along with locally agreed targets for 2002 and the national targets for 2002–03 and 2003–04. The specialist prescribing and general practitioner prescribing treatment modalities below include methadone programmes, and the other figures (with the exception of inpatient detoxification) include non-methadone treatments.
	
		
			 Treatment modality 2001 figures (weeks) Local 2002 targets (weeks) NTA 2002–03 target (weeks) NTA 2003–04 target (weeks) 
		
		
			 In-patient detoxification 12 7.1 4 2 
			 Specialist prescribing 14.1 7.5 6 3 
			 GP prescribing 5.7 4.3 4 2 
			 Day care 6 3.9 4 3 
			 Residential rehabilitation 9.1 6.3 4 3

Drug Addiction Programmes

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many state-funded places are available for heroin users on (a) methadone programmes and (b) programmes aimed at overcoming heroin addiction that do not involve the prescription of methadone.

Hazel Blears: Up to March 2001, the number of drug users in treatment with drug misuse agencies and general practitioners (GPs) was around 118,500. The majority of those entering treatment are heroin users. Over the two-year period from 1998–99 to 2000–01 there has been a 16 per cent. increase in the numbers of drug users accessing drug treatment services.
	The specialist prescribing and GP prescribing treatment modalities in the following table include places in methadone programmes, and the other figures (with the exception of in-patient detoxification) include non-methadone treatments.
	
		
			 Treatment modality Number in treatment Percentage in treatment 
		
		
			 In-patient detoxification 2,424 2 
			 Specialist prescribing 103,094 87 
			 GP prescribing 8,180 7 
			 Day care 706 1 
			 Residential rehabilitation 1,902 2

Dentistry

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the scale of payment made to dentists undertaking NHS work.

David Lammy: Dentists fees are reviewed annually by the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body on remuneration, who consider evidence submitted by the Government and representatives of the profession. Officials from my Department are working closely with the profession to see how changes can be made to dentists' remuneration to improve the service for patients and the dental team.

Dentistry

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of adults are registered with an NHS dentist.

David Lammy: 44 per cent. of adults were registered with a General Dental Service (GDS) dentist in England at 30 September 2002, and this rate has remained stable since 1998. Those patients who do not wish to, or are unable to register may be seen on the NHS under occasional treatment arrangements.
	Patients wishing to be treated under the NHS should be able to obtain details of dentists accepting new patients for registration in their area by contacting NHS Direct.

IT Systems

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on integration of the information technology system in the NHS.

Hazel Blears: The NHS is preparing to implement the XIntegrated Care Records Service", this will bring together all the health information of a single patient into one record. The record will be computer based and accessible from any point in the NHS.

Prisoners (Health)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of health provision, with particular reference to mental health, for inmates of HMP Eastwood Park.

Jacqui Smith: Eastwood Park has worked with its local NHS partners to complete a full health needs assessment, including the mental health needs, for its inmates. Eastwood Park was also among the first prisons to join the NHS-funded prison mental health in-reach project in July 2001, providing services within the prison setting.

Foundation Hospitals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on borrowing mechanisms for foundation hospitals.

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the prospectus for Foundation Hospital status bids.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) earlier today.

Primary Care

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to consult patients' representatives on the delivery of primary care.

John Hutton: Patient Advocacy and Liaison services and Patients Forums will be established in every PCT to enable patients and the public to contribute to the design, development and delivery of primary care services.
	The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, to be established next year, will promote public involvement in community decision making processes.

Palliative Care

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the provision of palliative care is a core service.

Hazel Blears: The principles of palliative care—holistic, patient-centred care— apply across all conditions and in all settings. Increasingly palliative care is being seen as an integral part of care and we are committed to delivering our pledge in the NHS Cancer Plan to increase support for specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2004.

Palliative Care

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the extra money allocated to primary care trusts for palliative care will be ringfenced.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health has made available an extra £10 million from central budgets for specialist palliative care for 2002–2003. This money has been allocated for primary care trusts (PCTs). It has been allocated to PCTs with clear instructions that it must be spent on specialist palliative care and that its use should be in line with local strategic plans and agreed by all relevant local partners.
	To make sure this extra money is deployed appropriately, strategic health authorities have been asked to ensure joint National Health service and voluntary sector agreement to its use and to provide investment and out-turn reports showing how it has been spent.

Children's Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase financial support for services for children with mental health problems and their families.

Jacqui Smith: On 16 October the Secretary of State for Health announced that mental health services for children would receive an additional investment of £140 million over the next three years through grants to local authorities. Together with new national health service investment this will help deliver a comprehensive mental health service for children in every area by 2006.

Osteopaths

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the regulation governing the accreditation of osteopaths.

John Hutton: I have no current plans to review the regulations governing the accreditation of osteopaths.

Carson Report

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Carson report.

John Hutton: The Government have accepted the conclusions of the Carson Report on the provision of Out of Hours Services and is making progress on its implementation.
	There are now 34 integrated exemplar sites operating across England and covering some 10 million people. These are testing out the model recommended by the Carson Report. Some—such as those in Nottingham, Chesterfield and Folkestone are working exceptionally well. However, experience drawn from all the exemplars will inform future development.

Prescriptions

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the establishment of NICE on the variations in prescription practice between different areas.

David Lammy: The majority of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance so far is focused on clinical activity by hospital specialists. We do not hold the detailed information required to make a comprehensive assessment in these cases. However, the Institute has commissioned a team from York university to undertake a study to describe and explain the extent and variation of guidance implementation. The study will make recommendations for implementation strategies and is expected to report shortly.

Dental Health

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve dental health in those areas where there is the greatest need for improvement.

David Lammy: In this session of Parliament the Government propose to legislate for far-reaching reform of national health service dental services which will enable Primary Care Trusts to address local oral health needs and will give primary care dentists the opportunity to focus on prevention and health promotion as well as treatment.
	We are seeking to strengthen the evidence base on the fluoridation of water so that health communities wishing to consider this option for reducing dental decay may have fuller information on the effects of fluoride on health. We have also introduced the XBrushing for Life" scheme whereby Health Visitors provide oral health advice to mothers of infants and give them a pack containing a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to encourage the early establishment of good oral hygiene habits. The scheme is supported in areas with the highest rates of tooth decay in children.

Mental Health Legislation

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the production, formulation and presentation of a new Mental Health Bill.

Jacqui Smith: A draft Mental Health Bill and consultation document was published on 25 June 2002. The consultation exercise closed on 16 September and we are currently considering almost 2,000 replies. We intend to introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Transplant Patients (Sheffield)

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the future care of heart and lung transplant patients from the Sheffield area.

John Hutton: I visisted the Northern General Hospital Cardio-Thoracic Unit on 20 June this year.
	I subsequently met the chair, chief executive and medical director of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on 11 September 2002. On both occasions I received representations on the future care of heart and lung transplant patients.
	I have also received three letters on this subject from hon. Members.

PHLS Laboratories

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future funding of PHLS laboratories located in district hospitals.

Hazel Blears: The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) laboratories that are to be transferred to national health service trusts will be transferred with their current level of funding. The details of this funding are currently being discussed by the Department's Health Protection Agency project team with the key staff in the PHLS and the NHS trusts.

PHLS Laboratories

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the transfer of management of Public Health Laboratories has been excluded from his regulatory reform proposals.

Hazel Blears: The consultation paper XHealth Protection: A Consultation Document on creating a health protection agency" made proposals for changes to primary legislation. Responses showed widespread support for creating the agency, and we aim to establish it as a non-departmental public body from 1 April 2004, subject to legislative time being available. At that stage, we intend that it will take responsibility for functions currently performed by the National Radiological Protection Board.
	As an interim step towards this, we intend to establish a special health authority, also to be called the Health Protection Agency, from 1 April 2003. The intention is that this special health authority will be responsible for the functions proposed for the agency under the NHS Act.
	The transfer of laboratories from the Public Health Laboratory Service to the national health service does not require change to primary legislation. A discussion paper on the transfer process was published in June 2002, and the intention is to complete the transfers by the end of March 2003.

Child Obesity

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to tackle child obesity.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures to tackle obesity among young people.

Hazel Blears: The Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in childhood obesity and we have put in place cross-Government programmes of work to improve eating habits and increase physical activity levels. As part of the national service framework for coronary heart disease, local programmes of effective policies on overweight and obesity are also in place.

Care Services (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for health what steps his Department is taking to stimulate an increase in the number of nursing and residential care home beds and the availability of domiciliary care services in York.

Jacqui Smith: York was one of the 55 councils targeted for extra resources as part of the Building Care Capacity Grant. They are receiving nearly £1 million over the two years 2001–03, which they are spending on additional capacity in the independent care sector.
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 23 July, we will be providing an extra £1 billion to councils over the next three years. These extra resources can be used to further stabilise the care home sector. It will also ensure that by 2005, there will be twice as many older people receiving the intensive help that they need to live at home than there were in 1995.

Heart Disease

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he plans to do to prevent early deaths from heart disease in the areas where this is most common.

Hazel Blears: The Government place a strong emphasis on reducing inequalities in health. The recently published planning and priorities framework set key targets for the national health service over the next three years. This document requires the NHS to 'contribute to a national reduction in death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) of at least 25 per cent. in people under 75 by 2005 compared to 1995–97, targeting the 20 per cent. of areas with the highest rates of CHD'.
	A further target, which requires the establishment of practice-based registers to cover the majority of patients at high risk of CHD, will focus the actions of primary care on the prevention of CHD.
	The national service framework for CHD sets standards for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of CHD. This requires primary care trusts (PCTs) to set in place policies to reduce smoking, to promote healthy eating, to promote physical activity and to reduce overweight and obesity. It is through focusing on these areas that PCTS in areas with high rates of CHD will make progress in reducing premature deaths from CHD.

Smallpox Vaccine

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of smallpox vaccine.

John Hutton: Yesterday I gave a written ministerial statement setting out how the national health service would respond to a potential smallpox terrorist attack.
	There are three components to the Department's preparation for response to a possible smallpox emergency: improved vaccine stocks, a plan of action setting out the steps to be taken in the event of an outbreak, and as a first step, immunising staff who could deal safely with any potential smallpox cases.
	Copies of the Department's smallpox plan have been placed in the Vote Office and will be placed in the Library.

Private Health Care

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of private health facilities by the NHS.

John Hutton: Our policy is to promote greater plurality and diversity in the provision of national health service care, including the use of private and voluntary sector providers where they offer high clinical standards and value for money.

Pulmonary Disease

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to reduce the number of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Hazel Blears: The major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is smoking. That is why the Government have set up a comprehensive smoking cessation service. In the four-year period to 2003, we have allocated £73 million to the national health service to provide a national NHS smoking cessation service. Smoking cessation aids have also been made available on NHS prescription. Additionally an important element of the overall tobacco strategy is the health education programme to which some £55 million has been allocated in the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03.
	Officials are holding a meeting in the new year with the National Asthma Campaign, British Thoracic Society and the British Lung Foundation on 28 February to discuss respiratory illness in the national service framework (NSF) for older people, and the effect of general NSF principles including rehabilitation on COPD patients.
	Expert groups such as the British Thoracic Society have developed clinical guidelines for the treatment of COPD.
	Pulmonary rehabilitation is increasingly offered in COPD, particularly to older people, to help them achieve their highest level of function and independence. It has been shown to improve exercise capacity, and to reduce anxiety and depression.

Acrylamide

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on acrylamide.

Hazel Blears: Acrylamide has been found to occur in a wide range of home-cooked and processed foods including chips and crisps. It has not been found in uncooked or boiled foods, and appears to be formed during cooking by methods such as frying and baking.
	Acrylamide has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. However, this is not a new risk, as it is likely that we have been exposed to acrylamide in food for generations.
	The Food Standards Agency is commissioning research and surveillance to ascertain the reason for, and extent of, acrylamide formation, but in the meantime has advised that on the basis of current evidence people should eat a balanced diet including a variety of fruit and vegetables, and that as part of a balanced diet people should moderate their consumption of fried and fatty foods.

Hospital Discharges

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review statutory guidance on hospital discharge to ensure that the needs of carers in paid employment are taken into account during discharge planning.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	In discharging people from hospital, account should be taken of the needs and personal circumstances of carers, including any extra support needed by carers in paid employment. This will be emphasised in the forthcoming revision of the hospital discharge workbook.

Care Homes (Insurance)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for care home insurance liability of the postponement of criminal records bureau checks and the protection of vulnerable adults list.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	A criminal record disclosure forms one of many checks persons caring for vulnerable adults have in order to work with this client group. Measures are already in place to ensure the projection of vulnerable adults from abuse. Persons caring for vulnerable adults continue to be subject to rigorous pre-employment checks, including confirming previous employment history and taking up references, to ensure their suitability for the position in question. Therefore these postponements should not represent an increase in the insurance liability of care homes.

Agency Nurses (West Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each primary care trust in West Sussex has spent this year on agency nursing staff.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Angina Treatments

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are being treated under the pilot schemes for enhanced external counterpulsation for angina; which hospitals are involved in the pilots; and what the cost is of a course of treatment.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The national research register, a register containing details of research funded by, or of interest to, the National Health Service, has details of the following projects involving enhanced external counterpulsation.
	
		
			 Project Hospital Number of patients Status 
		
		
			 Does EECP help patients with refractory angina? Hammersmith hospital 15 complete 
			 Does EECP help increase exercise capacity in heart failure? Hammersmith hospital 20 ongoing 
			 How does the efficacy of EECP for the relief of angina compare in patients whose angina is not controlled by usual medical therapy? Castle Hill hospital, Hull 12 complete 
		
	
	No information is available about cost.

Antibiotics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the amount of over-prescribing of antibiotics in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We have no direct evidence of over-prescribing of antibiotics in the National Health Service. Data from the prescription cost analysis system show that the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England was 23.3 per cent. lower in 2001 than in 1995, 37.9 million items compared to 49.4 million items.
	Our strategy to combat infectious disease Getting Ahead of the Curve identified antimicrobial resistance as a priority and a targeted action plan is being developed. This will build on existing initiatives to promote prudent prescribing of antibiotics.

Birth Statistics (Buckinghamshire)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many live births there were, broken down by ethnic groups, in hospitals in Buckinghamshire in (a) 2001, (b) 2000, (c) 1999, (d) 1998 and (e) 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Cancer Care

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the money pledged for improved cancer care has been taken up by primary care trusts and hospital trusts.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect information on how much is spent on individual programmes. However, we know that all areas have invested in cancer services. The national cancer director, Professor Mike Richards, is working with chief executives of strategic health authorities to ensure that the money allocated for cancer services this year and next year gets through to cancer services and that Cancer Plan targets are met.
	We are devolving power from the centre to locally run services to allow the freedom to innovate and improve care for patients. The increased resources that we have made available and will continue to make available to support the implementation of the Cancer Plan will move to the National Health Service frontline. Primary care trusts will have freedom to decide where NHS resources are best spent, but they will need to account publicly for how they have used resources against the test of high clinical standards and good value for money.

Cancer Treatment (Musgrove Hospital)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on the waiting list for cancer treatment at Musgrove Hospital.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of patients waiting for cancer treatment is not collected centrally. Waiting list information is collected at consultant specialty level and it is, therefore, not possible to derive those patients waiting cancer treatment.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the NVQ level 4 registered managers award for care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The Registered Managers (Adults) Level 4 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is a new award that is based on the national occupational standards for registered managers, adult residential, that were developed by Topss England last year. This NVQ was first offered in March 2002 and the candidates undertaking these courses will not yet have completed the award. It is therefore not possible to assess how effective the new award will be in the workplace at this stage.
	National occupational standards are reviewed on a five year rolling programme and any changes are then reflected in the associated NVQ. In the meantime, the reports done by National Care Standard Commission (NCSC) Inspectors should provide details of any improvements in the management of care homes and state whether a registered manager holds the new registered manager (adults) award.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the available capacity in the training sector to provide (a) care staff with NVQ level 2 and (b) registered managers with NVQ level 4, by 2005.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 November 2002
	We are aware that there is not a very strong National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) infrastructure within the care sector at present. This is why part of the £15 million in the training strategy implementation fund for 2002–03 is being used to support 11,500 line managers who are undertaking training to become NVQ assessors, verifiers and mentors. The fund is administered by Topss England, the former national training organisation for social care.
	In order to receive some of these funds, social care employers are invited to develop, either alone or in partnership, arrangements to support the establishment and development of work based assessment, verification and mentoring arrangements. This will both improve the quality of existing provision and increase the availability of appropriately qualified and experienced staff.
	Officials from my Department are also working with Department of Education and Skills and Topss England to reduce barriers to completion of NVQs and improve the quantityand quality of provision.

Child Migrants

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been disbursed under the aegis of the Support Fund for the Welfare of Child Migrants; how many benefited from the fund; and what assistance is now given to child migrants.

Jacqui Smith: : The Government made available £1 million over three years, ending in 2002, for a support fund for travel and subsistence for former child migrants who wished to make first-time visits to the United Kingdom to be reunited with close family. By the end of October this year the Fund had helped 430 former child migrants. A further five may still be supported by it, depending on the state of their health.
	This Government continues to fund the work of the child migrants trust, which helps former child migrants trace their families and provides support for family reunions.

Child Protection

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Departments with which he has interdepartmental links regarding the protection of children from physical and sexual abuse; and when he has had meetings with each of these Departments since May 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The Department works closely with all other Government Departments which have an interest in safeguarding children.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no meetings with ministerial colleagues specifically regarding the protection of children from physical and sexual abuse. I have policy responsibility for child protection and therefore attend interdepartmental meetings in this connection.

Children in Care

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of young people leaving care in each year since 1993 were aged 16.

Jacqui Smith: The proportion of young people aged 16 leaving care in each year since 1993 is shown in the table.
	
		Number of young people who left care aged 16, since 1993—England
		
			 Year ending 31 March Total number of leavers Number of leavers aged 16 Percentage of leavers aged 16 
		
		
			 1993 32,400 3,000 9 
			 1994 33,100 3,000 9 
			 1995 33,200 3,400 10 
			 1996 32,400 3,500 11 
			 1997 30,300 3,400 11 
			 1998 29,000 3,300 11 
			 1999 27,100 2,900 11 
			 2000 26,800 2,900 11 
			 2001 25,100 2,400 10 
		
	
	Note:
	All numbers rounded to the nearest 100
	Source:
	DH Form SSDA903

Children in Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of responses to the consultation on the complaints procedure for children in care, XListening to People".

Jacqui Smith: We will place in the Library copies of responses to the consultation document XListening to People", except those where respondents requested that replies remain confidential, in the next few weeks.

Children in Care

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people left care in each of the past five years; and of those, how many left without having attained any GCSEs at A*-G grades.

Jacqui Smith: These data are only available from year ending 31 March 2000 onwards. The available information is set out in the table.
	
		Number of Children who ceased to be looked after during the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2002 by age and educational qualifications -- EnglandNumbers
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 All care leavers in the year 26,800 25,100 (25)— 
			 (0 to 18 years)
			 Care leavers aged 16 and over 6,760 6,560 6,340 
			  
			 of which:
			 The number with no GCSE passes (A*-G) 4,780 4,200 3,850 
		
	
	(25) Indicates figure not available until March 2003
	All figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	Above tables excludes all children looked after under agreed series of short term placements.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce colorectal cancer screening.

Hazel Blears: In a speech to the Britain Against Cancer Conference on 5 November 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health reaffirmed his commitment to introduce a national screening programme for colorectal cancer and to improve services for symptomatic patients. It will take several years to do this. The national cancer director will be working with all the relevant experts to determine the best way forward, and specifically to consider workforce, capacity and skills requirements for both screening and symptomatic services.

Community Health Councils

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the guarantee of employment under Shifting the Balance of Power by a further 12 months for CHC staff; what his policy is on the terms of 'CHC Transition Issues: Human Resource Framework' issued by his Department in November 2001; and if he will make a statement on the TUPE rights of CHC staff.

David Lammy: A 12-month guarantee of continued employment was given until 31 March 2003, for all staff, including Community Health Council staff, affected by Shifting the Balance of Power (StBOP) who were transferring to strategic health authorites (StHAs) on 1 April 2002. Over 20,000 staff were involved in StBOP reorganisation. Because of the numbers involved, a one years employment guarantee was given to enable a smooth transition. The 'CHC Transition Issues: Human Resource Framework was issued to cover only the transfer to the StHAs. It was not intended for any other purpose. We are currently working with the trade unions and other interested parties on a new human resources document to support CHC staff and managers affected by the abolition of CHCs.
	The commission for patient and public involvement in health is a non-departmental public body and is not part of the National Health Service. Its role will be very different to those of CHCs. As a result, the Government has received legal advice that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) would not apply.

Community Health Councils

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the abolition date is for community health councils.

David Lammy: Community Health Councils (CHCs) will be abolished once the new arrangements for patient and public involvement are functioning. We will make an announcement as soon as a date is set.

Contraception

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his action to reduce the rate of conceptions among women under 18-years-old.

Hazel Blears: The Social Exclusion Unit Teenage Pregnancy Report was published in June 1999. This set out the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy with the goal of reducing the under 18 conception rate by 50 per cent., by 2010. An interim reduction target of 15 per cent., by 2004 is set out in the Government Manifesto and NHS Plan. A second goal of the strategy is to increase to 60 per cent., by 2010 the participation of teenage parents in education, training or employment to reduce their long term risk of social exclusion.
	The strategy has a 30 point action plan. 26 of the action points have been completed with two action points, 11 and 20, due to be completed by the end of the financial year.
	Action point 13 is to deliver guidance on the circumstances in which different health professionals may prescribe, supply and administer contraceptives to under 16s. Further work is being undertaken to identify the extent and nature of confusion among health professionals to inform the need and content of further guidance.
	The target completion date for Action point 29 is 2003.
	There are encouraging early signs that the strategy is working. There has been a 6 per cent., reduction in the under 18 and under 16 conception rate from the baseline year of 1998 with latest data showing a reduction in the under 18 conception rate for the 12th successive quarter.
	However, considerable further work is needed to ensure that activity is sustained and monitored. Our response to the first annual report of the independent advisory group on teenage pregnancy was published in June 2002 and sets out a further programme of work to deliver our headline goals. Our commitment is further underlined by the inclusion of the under 18 reduction target in the public service agreements for both the Department and local government.

Delayed Discharges

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of delayed discharges was in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) England on (i) 1 April 1997 and (ii) 1 April 2002.

Jacqui Smith: The delayed discharge rate for people aged 75 and over in North Yorkshire in the first quarter of 1997–98 was 3.9 per cent. In the last quarter of 2001–02, the rate was 8.5 per cent. The equivalent rates for England were 13.3 per cent., and 9.4 per cent., respectively, a reduction of 21 per cent., in the number of older people whose discharge was delayed.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in each (a) local authority, (b) primary care trust and (c) health authority in England will be required to implement the proposed fines for delayed discharge.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 November 2002
	Health and social care agencies have, over a number of years, developed local information systems to help them tackle delayed discharges. In the future, they will need to agree between themselves what data they need to prepare for the introduction of reimbursement. That information should flow from existing systems.

Delayed Discharges

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will measure the degree to which delayed discharges are widespread in March 2004 in order to ascertain whether targets relating to delayed discharges have been met.

Jacqui Smith: This will be evident from the progress achieved by March 2004 in comparison with the number of delayed transfers of care at the time that the NHS Plan was published.

Delayed Discharges

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his definition of a delayed discharge is.

Jacqui Smith: The definition used in information collected via the Department's Service and Financial Framework Report returns specifies that Xa delayed discharge occurs when a patient is ready for transfer from an 'acute' bed, but still occupying an 'acute' bed in a hospital. The patient being ready for transfer when a clinician in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team have decided both that the patient no longer requires to occupy an 'acute' hospital bed and is safe to be transferred."

Dementia

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what amount of the NHS budget has been spent on providing specialist treatment for people with dementia in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what provision the NHS makes for specialist staff to treat people with dementia; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what plans he has to (a) develop specialist care and (b) to increase funding, for the treatment of people suffering from dementia; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Government fully recognise the importance of ensuring that the needs of people with dementia and their carers are met. For that reason, the national service framework (NSF) for older people has set a standard and within this a service model that includes access to specialist care. NSF implementation will ensure that people with dementia receive the care and treatment they need. There are milestones to monitor progress.
	The Government are making available by 2003–04 an extra £1.4 billion for new investment in better health and social services for older people. Older people with dementia will benefit from this new investment and the Government have confirmed its commitment to ensuring that, as appropriate, people with dementia receive drugs and treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Final decisions on funding for mental health in 2003–04 will be made soon as part of the work on primary care trust allocations and central budgets.
	In 2001 there were 350 consultants in the old age psychiatry in England—most established services now have more than one. Following publication of the NSF for older people, the Department is examining the training needs of all staff working with people with dementia.
	Information on national health service spending on specialist treatment for people with dementia is not available.

Detained Children

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England, who were the subject of inquiries in 2001–02 under (a) section 17 and (b) section 47 of the Children Act 1989 were in (i) prison service detention, (ii) local authority secure units subject to section 23(5) Children and Young Persons Act 1969 and (iii) local authority secure units subject to section 25 Children Act 1989.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Diabetes

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years were diagnosed as diabetic in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally. However, The latest in-patient admissions information held by the Department for the number of people under the age of 18 years with diabetes in the Lancashire health authorities and the North West Region is shown in the table.
	
		Admissions to hospitals by area of treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis in patients aged under 18 years old
		
			 2000–01 Number 
		
		
			 QCX East Lancashire HA 21 
			 QCY North West Lancashire HA 24 
			 QC4 Morecambe Bay HA 7 
			 North West 296 
		
	
	Notes
	The primary diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the HES data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Source
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Diabetes

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the diabetes national service framework.

David Lammy: We shall be publishing the delivery strategy for the diabetes national service framework in the next few weeks.

Diagnostic Treatment (Mid-Surrey)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to locate a diagnostic treatment centre in mid-Surrey.

Hazel Blears: Work is currently on-going to finalise the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority's capacity plan. The Department's directorate of health and social care for the south of England is supporting the strategic health authority in this process. The capacity plan will identify a range of solutions to address the identified capacity constraints in the Surrey and Sussex health community. Any decision on the location of a diagnosis and treatment centre in Mid-Surrey will be taken as part of this process.

Dialysis

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are receiving dialysis treatments in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) England.

Jacqui Smith: The figures in the able are for 2001. They have been collated from estimates provided by the United Kingdom renal registry and from local National Health Service sources and should therefore only be used only as a guide. Activity information on hospital attendance for dialysis is being collected centrally for the first time in 2002–2003.
	
		
			  Haemodialysis Peritoneal Dialysis Total 
		
		
			 Lancashire 181 123 304 
			 North West 1,090 712 1,802 
			 England 11,076 5,187 16,263 
		
	
	The Department at the moment does not centrally collect information on dialysis patients. However, information is being collected for the first time in 2002–03 as part of the new 'regular day or night attenders' dataset.

East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey PCT

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide funding to enable the East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey PCT to maintain current service levels next year.

Hazel Blears: The announcement of three-year allocations to primary care trusts will be made soon. It will then be for the East Elmbridge and Mid-Surrey Primary Care Trust to determine spending priorities consistent with the recently published priorities and planning framework 2003–06.

Electro-acupuncture

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the chief executive of St Richard's Hospital, West Sussex on the availability of staff to administer electro-acupuncture; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There have been no recent discussions with the chief executive of St. Richard's hospital. However I wrote to the hon. Member on 3 September 2002 about this matter.

GPs (Closed Lists)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in (a) Kent and (b) the south-east are operating a closed-list policy.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Handrails

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which public bodies supply handrails to the elderly to prevent falls.

Jacqui Smith: Local council and national health service trust community equipment services are able to provide handrails to older and disabled people. These services, although currently separate, will be fully integrated by 2004 as set out in the NHS Plan.
	In addition, local councils may provide handrails under other arrangements for housing adaptations.

Health Budget (Leeds)

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total health budget for Leeds is dedicated to Leeds West.

Jacqui Smith: For the current financial year strategic health authorities share their recurrent revenue allocations between their primary care trusts (PCTs) in line with guidance issued by the Department.
	In 2002–03, £94.8 million (revenue) was allocated to the Leeds West Primary Care Trust. This represents 15 per cent. of the total allocation to the five PCTs serving Leeds.

Heart Hospitals

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with O.R. International on their plans to establish several heart hospitals in England; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Officials have had one informal meeting with OR International. Any discussions will need to be held in the context of the national revascularisation strategy and the proper process of tendering for bids to expand capacity.

Hepatitis C

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure he plans to undertake in 2002–03 to encourage public awareness of hepatitis C; and what proportion of that expenditure is planned for advertising on television.

Hazel Blears: We have made approximately £430,000 available in 2002–03 to fund work connected with increasing professional and public awareness. We do not anticipate that this work will include television advertising.

Hepatitis C

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of carriers of hepatitis C in the UK; and what proportion of that total are likely to develop (a) cirrhosis of the liver and (b) cancer of the liver.

Hazel Blears: It is estimated that 0.4 per cent., of the general population in England, about 200,000 people, have chronic hepatitis C infection. Information on the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can be obtained from the respective devolved Administrations.
	Studies suggest that about 20 per cent., of individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection develop cirrhosis after 20–30 years. Of these, about 1–4 per cent., per year will develop primary liver cancer.

Hepatitis C

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an expert group to consider the case for a compensation scheme for those persons infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood products.

Hazel Blears: There are no plans to establish an expert group to consider this matter.

Hepatitis C

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being made available, and over what timescale, for the implementation of the hepatitis C strategy published by his Department in August.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 19 November 2002, Official Report, column 102W.

Hepatitis C

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidance to primary care trusts on increasing the priority given to the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.

Hazel Blears: Consultation on the Department paper, XHepatitis C Strategy for England", ended on 15 November 2002. We will be publishing a hepatitis C action plan based on responses to the consultation paper and comments received at recent meetings with stakeholders in the next few months. As part of this work, we will be considering the need to issue guidance on hepatitis C to the national health service.

Hepatitis C

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to General Practitioners drawing attention to the risk of hepatitis C infection through needle misuse, and promoting good health practice among those most at risk.

Hazel Blears: The Department issued a briefing pack entitled XHepatitis C: essential information for professionals" to all general medical practitioners and practice nurses in England in March 2002. The information contained in the briefing pack includes advice on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C infection. The briefing pack also draws attention to further sources of information such as the Department's publication, XHepatitis C—guidance for those working with drug users". The professional briefing paper and patient leaflet contained in the briefing pack are on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hepatitisc.
	The briefing pack supplements regional professional awareness-raising conferences held for primary care professionals in February and March 2002. Further conferences are planned for 2003.

Hepatitis C

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the costs of an education campaign in England and Wales to alert the public to the risks of hepatitis C infection.

Hazel Blears: We have currently allocated £0.9 million of central funding over 2002–03 and 2003–04 to raise professional and public awareness of hepatitis C in England. Information relating to Wales can be obtained from the National Assembly for Wales. Funding for future years has yet to be determined.

HIV-positive Babies

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many live births to HIV-infected mothers were subsequently found to be HIV-positive in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the number of reported live births in England to HIV-infected women for the years 1997–2001, by the last reported infection status of child and year of birth.
	
		
			 Year of birth (26) Infected Indeterminate(27) Uninfected Total reported live births 
		
		
			 1997 54 12 84 150 
			 1998 39 14 118 171 
			 1999 32 25 178 235 
			 2000 32 71 238 341 
			 2001 11 245 187 443 
		
	
	(26) For recent years, numbers may increase as late reports are received.
	(27) Those children categorised as indeterminate are probably uninfected but it takes up to 18 months (due to persistence of maternal antibodies in the child) before a negative antibody test can rule out infection in the child.

Home Care Services

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that home care services are free at the point of need.

Jacqui Smith: Councils have had the power to charge for non-residential social services since the 1948 National Assistance Act. Councils have wide discretion on how to set their charges, although it is stipulated that if they choose to charge for services, the charges generally should be 'reasonable'.
	The Department issued statutory guidance to local councils for home care charges in November 2001. This guidance does not seek to change councils' power to charge, or not, but seeks to ensure that, where councils do charge, this will be based on fairer, well designed charging policies. An important principle of the guidance is that charges should not reduce a person's income below basic levels of income support plus a 25 per cent. buffer.

Hospices

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on allowing hospices to apply for lottery funding.

Hazel Blears: Department officials have been closely involved in discussions on the eligibility of hospices to apply for lottery funding. I am content that the results of a widespread and public consultation exercise undertaken by the New Opportunities Fund indicated the possible merits of applications for lottery funding from hospices.
	The New Opportunities Fund Board is responsible for the operation of the fund. Support for adult hospices has been made by the fund under the Living with Cancer programme and further funding is being made available for adult community palliative care services and children's hospices. I understand that a number of hospices have applied to the Fund through this programme and that decisions on applications will be announced in the new year.

Hospital Discharge Workbook

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to update the hospital discharge workbook.

Jacqui Smith: The guidance on hospital discharge is currently being reviewed with a view to publishing a revised workbook shortly.

Linten Hospital Site

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will decide whether Maidstone and Weald primary trust will be allowed to take forward their proposal for a 48 bed interim care centre at the former Linten Hospital site; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Discussions on the future of the Linten Hospital site have been underway for some time. Kent and Medway Health Strategic Health Authority is in close contact with the Maidstone and Weald Primary Care Trust to look at a number of options for the development of intermediate care and associated services in the locality. No decisions have yet been made by the health economy but I am advised by the strategic health authority that a number of proposals are under active consideration.

Medway Secure Training Centre

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suicides there have been at Medway Secure Training Centre since 1999.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	None.

Mental Health

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to (a) maximise compliance and (b) minimise compulsion in relation to the use of antipsychotic medicines for severe mental illness.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr Loughton) on Monday 25 November 2002, Official Report, col. 129W.

Mental Health Grant

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surplus resources will remain after the survey process for the final out-turn of the mental health grant has been completed.

Jacqui Smith: There will not be any surplus resources of the Mental Health Grant as it is redistributed to councils with social service responsibilities in accordance with a detailed bidding process.

National Care Standards

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will issue guidance to local authority inspectors to enable them to interpret according to individual circumstances the physical standards regulations within the National Care Standards, when registering new community housing projects where service users will not have major physical support needs, including brain injury rehabilitation community housing services;
	(2)  if he will consult voluntary and charitable sector organisations who provide care home, supported and community housing services for people with disabilities in reviewing the effects of the National Care Standards;
	(3)  if he plans to review the effect of the National Care Standards on the provision of care home, supported and community housing services to people with disabilities;
	(4)  what representations he has received from voluntary or charitable sector providers of care home, supported and community housing services for people with disabilities concerning the application of the National Care Standards.

Jacqui Smith: We have made it clear in the past that the National Minimum Standards will be continuously monitored. We had always proposed to review them within the first three years of operation, and in the light of the review consider any changes needed. Where significant changes are proposed, the Government have pledged that there will be another consultation process to ensure that the views of the sector are fully represented.
	The Department issued a consultation document, XCare Homes for Older People and Younger Adults: Consultation Document—August 2002", on 16 August. It set out how the National Minimum Standards should be amended so that certain environmental standards will no longer apply to care homes which existed before 1 April 2002.
	The consultation document draws attention to the package of measures the Department launched in January 2002 to smooth the introduction of the national standards. This included comprehensive statutory guidance to the Commission, under section 6 of the Care Standards Act, setting out the supportive way in which the standards should be applied. The guidance indicates that the standards should be used to help guide all care homes on action they can take to improve their services. In addition, in August 2002, we issued guidance on the regulation of supported housing and care homes.
	Responses to the consultation have been received from a range of interested parties, including the voluntary and charitable sector organisations. We are currently considering these and will shortly be issuing an amended set of national minimum standards for care homes for older people and for care homes for younger adults.
	We have received a number of representations including some from voluntary or charitable providers of care services about the application of National Care Standards.

National Healthy Schools Standard

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of schools have adopted the National Healthy Schools Standard.

Hazel Blears: Over half of the 25,600 schools in England are involved in the national healthy schools programme and over 8,000 are working towards achievement of the full standard.
	All schools have received information about the national programme and there are 105 local education and health partnerships recruiting and supporting schools to achieve the standard.

National School Fruit Scheme

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary schools are participating in the National School Fruit Scheme.

Hazel Blears: The national school fruit scheme will entitle every child aged four to six to a free piece of fruit each school day from 2004. The scheme is currently being expanded to all eligible schools through large scale pilots on a region by region basis with funding of £42 million from the New Opportunities Fund.
	It is currently available to all primary, infant and special schools attended by four to six year olds in London and West Midlands regions and selected schools in small pilot areas in other regions.
	In West Midlands 89 per cent, of eligible schools are currently participating. In London, from 2 December, 78 per cent, will be participating. These are schools which have joined the scheme at the first time of asking. We expect the percentage of participating schools to rise in the new year.
	Participating schools in West Midlands, London and the small pilot areas represent 20 per cent, of primary, infant and special schools in England attended by four to six year olds.

Nurses

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained nurses there were in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected by constituency. Information for the former Buckinghamshire Health Authority is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): -- Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff within Buckinghamshire HealthAuthority area as at 30 September each yearwhole-time equivalent
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 2,490 2,520 2,610 2,670 2,680 2,820 
			 headcount 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 3,210 3,430 3,490 3,760 3,830 3,860 
		
	
	Notes
	2001 is the most recent year for which figures are currently available.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
	Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	HA figures are based on trusts and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.
	Source
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Oncology Consultants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many oncology consultant vacancies there were in each of the cancer networks.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	The information requested is not available; there are 34 cancer networks, which are based around flows of patients to tertiary centres so they are not co-terminus with strategic health authorities (StHA). We can only provide data about oncology consultant vacancies by StHA.
	The number of three-month clinical and medical oncology vacancies in StHAs is shown in the table. The current vacancy rate for clinical oncology in England is 6.4 per cent. and in medical oncology is 2.3 per cent.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2002—vacancies in NHS trusts by DHSC and strategic health authority, specific consultant specialties—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  Clinical oncology (excluding HA staff)  
			  Three month vacancy rate (percentage) Three month vacancy (number) Staff in post (wte) Staff in post (hc) 
		
		
			 England 6.4 20 290 320 
			  
			 Midlands and Eastern 5.4 10 90 90 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 0.0 0 20 20 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 23.1 0 10 10 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Essex (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 0.0 0 10 10 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 9.7 0 20 20 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Trent 0.0 0 10 10 
			  
			 London 4.5 0 40 50 
			 North Central London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 North East London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 North West London 6.4 0 10 20 
			 South East London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 South West London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  
			 Northern 10.8 10 90 100 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 8.2 0 10 10 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 38.5 10 10 10 
			 Greater Manchester 5.3 0 20 20 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 7.3 0 10 20 
			 South Yorkshire 0.0 0 10 10 
			 West Yorkshire 5.9 0 20 20 
			  
			 South 2.7 0 70 80 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 0.0 0 20 20 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 8.5 0 10 10 
			 Kent and Medway (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Somerset and Dorset (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 South West Peninsula (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Surrey and Sussex 0.0 0 10 10 
			 Thames Valley 0.0 0 10 20 
			  
			 Special HAs (29)— (29)— (29)— (29)— 
		
	
	
		
			  Medical oncology (excluding HA staff)  
			  Three month vacancy rate (percentage) Three month vacancy (number) Staff in post (wte) Staff in post (hc) 
		
		
			 England 2.3 0 150 180 
			  
			 Midlands and Eastern 5.5 0 30 40 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 7.1 0 10 10 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester (29)— (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Essex (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Trent (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  
			 London 0.0 0 40 50 
			 North Central London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 North East London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 North West London 0.0 0 20 20 
			 South East London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 South West London (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  
			 Northern 0.0 0 40 50 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley (29)— (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Greater Manchester (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire (29)— (29)— (29)— (29)— 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 South Yorkshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 West Yorkshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  
			 South 3.9 0 40 50 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Kent and Medway (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Somerset and Dorset (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 South West Peninsula (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Surrey and Sussex (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Thames Valley (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  
			 Special HAs (29)— (29)— (29)— (29)— 
		
	
	(28) Figures where sum of staff in post and vacancies is less than 10.
	(29) Figures where sum of staff in post and vacancies is zero.
	Key notes:
	3. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2002.
	4. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
	5. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	6. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey and the Consultant Census, March 2002.
	7. Staff in post data are from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2001 and the Mini Consultant Census, March 2002.
	8. Staff in post data exclude staff employed by health authorities, as vacancy information was only collected from trusts, PCTs and special health authorities.
	9. Medical and dental figures exclude staff in training.
	10. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	11. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Other notes:
	12. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	13. Due to rounding, calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	14. StHA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
	15. Figures may not match previously published data due to a different method of rounding used on the staff in post data.
	Sources:
	Vacancy Numbers and Rates: Department of Health Vacancies Survey March 2002 and Consultant census March 2002
	Medical and Dental Staff in Post: Department of Health Consultant census March 2002

Patient Discharge

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a pilot scheme of the delayed hospital discharge fines from 1 April 2003.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has set up a reimbursement implementation team to work alongside its change agents team with a number of health and social care agencies around the country. They will be examining how best any barriers to implementation can be overcome. Their work will inform the drafting of detailed regulations and guidance on this.

Premature Babies

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many premature babies have developed chronic diseases in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Quality Protects

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in the outcomes for children and young people Quality Protects has delivered.

Jacqui Smith: There is real evidence that Quality Protects is beginning to improve children's lives. For example, since the programme began we have seen:
	More corporate working across councils and greater understanding of councils' and councillors' role as 'corporate parents';
	More partnership working with voluntary organisations;
	An increase in the proportion of children looked after placed for adoption—3,400 looked after children were adopted in England in the year to 31 March 2002, 11 per cent. more than in the previous year and 25 per cent. more than in 1999–2000;
	Children in care experiencing fewer placements—16 per cent. of children now experience three or more placements in one year as opposed to 19 per cent, in 1997–98;
	A reduction in the number of re-registrations on the child protection register from 20 per cent. in 1997–98 to 14 per cent. in 2001–02;
	More support being given to care leavers;
	More councils listening to children and young people in their care;
	Improvements in the collecting and use of management information.
	We shall shortly be publishing an overview report of councils' fourth annual management action plans, which set out their progress in and future plans for implementing Quality Protects.

Radiological Protection

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what radiological protection, with specific reference to protective coverings, is required when using new scanners; and whether the cost of protective items is covered by the funds set aside for extra CT and MRI scanners.

Hazel Blears: The following regulations, standards and guidelines are designed to ensure that all aspects of safety, including radiation protection issues, are addressed whenever diagnostic medical equipment is installed in the United Kingdom.
	For general safety issues, all equipment must be CE-marked in accordance with the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations, 2002, S.I. 2002, no. 618, which are derived from the Medical Devices Directive, 93/42/EEC. In addition medical electrical equipment should meet the British and European standards, such as the General Requirements for Safety, BSEN 60601.
	The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) provide radiation protection to workers and the public and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.
	Department of Health regulations concerning radiation protection for patients are the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 [IR(ME)R 2000].
	To ensure that imaging equipment is installed in suitable accommodation, NHS Estates publish guidelines that describe issue that should be considered. References to the relevant publications are provided below.
	Consultations regarding the allocation of extra computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanners are under way with strategic health authorities and local healthcare commissioners. These discussions will ensure that adequate funding is in place to allow the safe installation of all new equipment.
	References:
	Facilities for Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, NHS Estates, London, HMSO. ISBN 0–11–322000–0
	Health Building Note 6 Supplement 1. Accommodation for magnetic resonance imaging. NHS Estates 1994, London, HMSO. ISBN 0113217307
	Health Guidance Note Magnetic Resonance Imaging. NHS Estates, London, HMSO. ISBN 0113220510

Rehabilitation

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support he is making available to improve vocational rehabilitation services through the national service framework for chronic and neurological disorders.

Jacqui Smith: The national service framework for long-term conditions (NSF) will focus on neurological conditions and some of the generic issues relevant to a wide range of people with disabilities and long term conditions. We have appointed an external reference group to take forward the detailed development of the NSF and to consider the range of issues it should tackle which could include vocational rehabilitation. We recognise the importance of supporting people with long-term conditions to remain in or return to work wherever possible. We plan to publish the NSF in 2004. Implementation will cover a 10-year period starting in 2005. We will consider the resource and funding implications of implementing the NSF during its development.
	The Government are currently testing out which health and employment interventions are most effective in supporting people with illness or disability to stay in work.

Residential and Nursing Homes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were in residential and nursing homes in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) at the latest available date.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not centrally available on the number of residents in residential and nursing homes. The number of places in residential and nursing care homes in England is shown in the table for 1997 and 2001. Data for 2002 are not yet available.
	
		Number of residential and nursing care home places(30) in England at 31 March, 1997 to 2001
		
			 As at 31 March Residential Nursing(31) Total 
		
		
			 1997 338,100 196,300 534,400 
			 2001 341,200 186,800 528,000 
		
	
	(30) Data include places in dual registered homes.
	(31) Nursing home places covers general and mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.

Residential and Nursing Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures are provided to the Department by the NCSC regarding the average time it takes to open a new (a) residential and (b) nursing home; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: No such figures have been requested or provided.

Residential and Nursing Homes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average levels of fees for residential and nursing home residents were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001; and what the average is.

Jacqui Smith: Information regarding the average fee levels charged by care homes is not kept centrally. However, figures by independent health and community care consultants Laing and Buisson indicate the following average weekly fee levels in February 1997, March 2001 and March 2002:
	
		
			  Residential care homes Nursing care homes 
		
		
			 1997 247 338 
			 2001 280 393 
			 2002 302 422

Ritalin

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what long-term assessment has been made of the use of the drug Ritalin; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Ritalin is indicated as a part of a comprehensive treatment programme for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children over six years of age where remedial measures alone prove insufficient. In October 2000, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published an appraisal of the use of the drug methlphenidate (main brand name Ritalin) in the treatment of childhood ADHD, and issued clinical guidelines for its use, including the need for regular monitoring of children receiving this therapy. NICE recommended long-term follow-up of adverse effects and the potential for misuse of the drug in assessing long-term benefits and health gain into adulthood.
	As with all medicines, the safety of methylphenidate is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency and the independent advisory body, the Committee on the Safety of Medicines. Comprehensive information on the use of methylphenidate, including possible side effects, contraindications and precautions is contained in the summary of product characteristics produced by the manufacturer and approved by the licensing authority. Review by NICE of its guidance on the use of methylphenidate is scheduled for August 2003.

Sexual Health and HIV Services

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of primary care trusts have an identified lead for sexual health and HIV services for their area; what proportion have in place arrangements for commissioning such services in consortia with neighbouring PCTs; what proportion have neither; which primary care trusts have yet to name a lead for sexual health and HIV services for their area and have not made provision for commissioning in consortia with neighbouring PCTs; and when the report of the baseline service mapping exercise of sexual health and HIV services will be published.

Hazel Blears: Of the 304 primary care trusts (PCTs), including two designated as care trusts, in England, 273 have notified the Department of a sexual health and HIV lead for their area. We are currently taking action to identify remaining leads. We have not collected information centrally on commissioning arrangements for sexual health services. The local baseline review mapping exercise reports are currently being analysed and a summary report will be published early next year.
	We are still awaiting details of sexual health leads from the following PCTs:
	Bedford
	Bedfordshire Heartlands
	Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford
	Bournemouth
	Bracknell Forest
	Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth
	Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford
	Dacorum
	Derwentside
	Dudley South
	Eastleigh and Test Valley South
	Enfield
	Gateshead
	Gedling
	Haringey
	Herefordshire
	Hinckley and Bosworth
	Huntingdonshire
	Islington
	Lincolnshire South West
	Mid Devon
	Mid Sussex
	North East Oxfordshire
	North Surrey
	Rotherham
	South Peterborough
	Wednesbury and West Bromwich
	Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead
	Witham, Braintree and Halstead
	Woking Area

Smear Tests

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long it took to provide the result from a smear test in each health authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information is not available in the format requested. Information on waiting times for screening tests is only available for those areas where the result letters are sent to women directly by the health authorities. Around two thirds of health authorities and primary care trusts do this.
	In 2001–02, 50 per cent., of women in these health authorities received their written cervical screening test result within six weeks. 85 per cent., of women received their written results within 10 weeks.
	Source:
	Statistical Bulletin: Cervical Screening Programme, England: 2001–02.

Smoking Cessation Services

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department makes available to support smoking cessation; and what cost benefit analysis has been conducted of this spending.

Hazel Blears: In 2002–03 the Department allocated £37 million to support smoking cessation. Drawing on a range of evidence and research findings the Department concludes that smoking cessation services are very cost effective, with a cost per life year saved of less than £1,000.

Soft Drinks

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Food Standards Agency has taken with regard to the safety of unregulated imported soft drinks.

Hazel Blears: All food, including soft drinks, is subject to the same food safety legislation, whether produced in the United Kingdom or imported. This legislation is enforced by local authorities. In addition, soft drinks imported from countries outside the European Union are subject to checks by local port health authorities.

Somerset Drug Service

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much money has been allocated annually to the Somerset Drug Service since its inception;
	(2)  how many individuals have been treated by the Somerset Drug Service through (a) self-referral, (b) court referral and (c) other referral in the last two years.

Hazel Blears: I am advised by Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority that the annual allocation to Somerset Drug Service was as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			  Allocation 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,562,000 
			 2001–02 1,265,000 
			 2000–01 900,000 
		
	
	These are the only years for which information is readily available from the strategic health authority.
	The number of individuals referred for treatment at Somerset Drug Service is not collected centrally. Again, the strategic health authority has advised me that referrals to the service in 2000–01 were 248 and in 2001–02 were 288.

Tobacco Products

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken in accordance with Article 7 of the EU Tobacco Directive, to ban the use of texts, names, trademarks and figurative or other signs suggesting that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than others, on the packaging of tobacco products.

Hazel Blears: Following a three month consultation exercise, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly make and lay before Parliament Regulations to transpose the Directive including its requirements under Article 7. These Regulations will ban the use of such terms, which suggest that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than others. The Directive requires this ban to be in effect by 30 September 2003. Article 7 is subject to a challenge in the European Court of Justice and judgement is expected shortly. If necessary, the Regulations will be amended to reflect the judgement.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have a higher than average tuberculosis level; and how much each trust will receive of the money being made available for tuberculosis.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Data currently available through the statutory notification system collected by the public health laboratory service are not broken down by primary care trust (PCT). Data are currently provided by health authority only.
	Funding will be allocated to those health authorities with the highest incidences of tuberculosis, who will in turn distribute money to the PCTs in their area.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to meet the head of the tuberculosis unit at the Public Health Laboratory Service.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Departmental officials maintain close working contact with the public health laboratory service leads on tuberculosis, who in turn report back to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have levels of tuberculosis higher than the national average.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	Notification data currently available through the statutory notification system, collected bythe public health laboratory service, is not broken down by primary care trust. Data is currently provided by health authority only.

Zyban

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for Zyban have been issued in each month since the drug was licensed, broken down by health authority.

Hazel Blears: Information on the number of prescriptions for Zyban issued by month since the drug was licensed, broken down by Strategic Health Authority, have been placed in the Library.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Access Radio

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has carried out a regulatory impact analysis of the effect of the proposed changes in the Communications Bill, with specific regard to the introduction of access radio; and what assessment she has made of the impact on existing local commercial radio stations, if (a) access radio is fully funded out of the public purse and (b) access radio is allowed to raise revenue through selling advertising slots.

Kim Howells: Access radio formed part of the Draft Communications Regulatory Impact Assessment published in May for consultation.
	The Radio Authority are currently undertaking a pilot study of a number of access radio stations. The purpose of the study is to establish whether access radio is viable and how it might be licensed, regulated, funded, promoted and organised. The Radio Authority evaluation will also seek to assess the possible impact on the commercial radio sector. The completed evaluation is expected to be published next February.

Access Radio

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how she intends to regulate the activities of access radio; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of access radio on the ability of local commercial radio stations to attract funding by carrying advertising;
	(3)  how she expects access radio will be funded; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Radio Authority are currently undertaking a pilot study of a number of access radio stations. The purpose of the study is to establish whether access radio is viable and how it might be licensed, regulated, funded, promoted and organised. The Radio Authority evaluation will also seek to assess the possible impact on the commercial radio sector. The completed evaluation is expected to be published next February.

BBC

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions in the last 12 months the BBC has paid goodwill cheques to the victims of maladministration of licence fee collection.

Kim Howells: Neither the BBC nor TV Licensing are subject to the powers of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and there are therefore no formal findings of maladministration against the BBC or TV Licensing. However, TV Licensing operates its own complaints procedures and if a member of the public remains unsatisfied with the outcome the BBC will also consider the complaint. Goodwill payments in relation to the administration of the television licensing system are made by TV Licensing rather than the BBC. Information on the number of such payments is available only for the period since Capita took over the TV Licensing contract in July this year. From July to October 2002, TV Licensing made a total of 825 goodwill payments.

Broadcasting

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of her Department's role in facilitating and promoting the competitiveness of UK broadcast-related industries and the early take-up of digital broadcast services; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My Department continues to encourage the competitiveness of the UK broadcast-related industries through its wide-ranging support for the creative industries, working in partnership with all stakeholders within Government and the industry to examine ways of enhancing performance at home and overseas. As part of this work, in November 1999 DCMS published the report of the UK Television Exports Inquiry which specifically looked at how Government and the industry could work together to enhance export performance, to lower barriers to investment and to increase the international attractiveness of UK television programmes. DCMS continues to work with the industry and with Skillset in taking forward the recommendations of the Audio Visual Industries Training Group to meet future skills needs.
	We are also promoting competitiveness through targets set for BBC commercial income and through the promotion of digital broadcasting, where the UK has maintained world leadership, with 40 per cent. of households having access to digital television across the platforms. We have approved new digital BBC services which enhance the digital proposition. With the Department of Trade and Industry, and in consultation with broadcasters, manufacturers and consumer representatives, we have published the Digital Television Action Plan. This sets out what needs to be done by whom and by when in order to meet the criteria for full switchover. We have also taken steps to encourage digital radio development by aligning the licence period for digital and analogue licences. The Communications Bill provides the framework for enhancing competitiveness further and extending the take-up of digital television.

Broadcasting

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has for a future regulatory system for broadcasting which recognises market and technological developments; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: On 19 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State introduced the Communications Bill, which will establish the new regulatory framework for broadcasting and the communications industries. This framework recognises, both within Ofcom's general duties and the detail of the regulatory provisions, the importance of competition, of investment and of innovation in delivering the dynamic market for communications services which we want to see in the United Kingdom. A dynamic, competitive market will encourage the development and take-up of new technologies, to the benefit of business, consumers and the UK economy. The proposals in the Bill also address the challenges of technological convergence, in providing for regulation by a single body and for a flexible regime capable of accommodating further change.

Broadcasting

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of levels of (a) standards and diversity of broadcasting output, (b) broadcasting content being socially inclusive and (c) access to broadcast material; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: It is the responsibility of the broadcasters and the broadcasting regulatory bodies, that is the BBC Governors, Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority and Broadcasting Standards Commission, to ensure that broadcasters meet their obligations for quality, diversity, social inclusion and accessibility, in accordance with the regulatory requirements agreed by Parliament. They report on these in their Annual Reports and, in establishing new regulatory requirements as set out in the Communications Bill, we have also had the benefit of wide-ranging consultation.

Counterfeit Goods

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the sale of counterfeit and illegal music album sales; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many illegally produced music singles and albums she estimates to have been sold in the UK in 2002;
	(3)  she has made of the total cost in 2001 of illegal sales of music singles and albums; and what measures she is taking to prevent this.

Kim Howells: This Department and the Department for Trade and Industry work together closely on the fight against music piracy and the protection of copyright, and are in regular contact with the industry on these issues. Among other things, the Government supported the Private Member's Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable), which was enacted on 20 November as the Copyright, etc. Trade Marks (Offences and Enforcement) Act 2002; this increased the maximum sentence for copyright offences from two to 10 years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Furthermore, the role of this Department's new music industry adviser, Stephen Navin, includes the provision of advice on combatting piracy. The British Phonographic Industry estimates that the total value of commercially pirated singles and albums in 2001 totalled £27.6 million; information on the number of illegally produced records in 2002 is not yet available.

Grants

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the grants funded by her Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; and if she will make a statement as to (a) the total of such funding in the last financial year, (b) the total number of awards and (c) their administrative costs.

Kim Howells: The information you requested is as follows:
	
		
			 2001–02 grant Total number of awards Total value of grants paid (£000) 
		
		
			 Designated Museums Challenge Fund (administered by Resource) 56 8,465 
			 Wolfson Public Libraries Fund (administered by Resource) 16 2,580 
			 Spaces for Sport and Art (administered by Sport England on behalf of DCMS and DfES) 306 579 
			 Listed places of worship 707 1,659 
		
	
	This table covers grants paid directly by the Department or by its NDPBs from ring-fenced monies allocated by the Department for a specific scheme to which individuals or organisations may apply. Grants paid to third parties by NDPBs from general grant-in-aid or lottery funds have not been included in the table.
	The administration of the specified grant programmes is carried out by a number of different units within the department and relevant NDPBs to which a range of staff make a contribution. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of these costs centrally other than for the listed places of worship, where administration costs incurred in the last financial year were nil.

Heritage Grant Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has taken to transfer responsibility of the Heritage Grant Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Responsibility for the Heritage Grant Fund was transferred to English Heritage on 1 April 2000.

Museums

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been (a) made available through her Department's challenge fund and (b) spent in each year since 1998–99 by each museum; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The 62 museums with designated collections have each received awards from the designation challenge fund, administered by Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, to help meet the costs of caring for and interpreting their designated collections. The awards are set out in the following table.
	
		Designation challenge fund awards 1999–2004 -- £
		
			  Amount awarded Total awarded Awards made 
			 Ref/name of museum 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 1999–2002 2002–04 
		
		
			 1 University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum 54,193.44 96,613.52 146,845.48 297,652.44 100,025.00 
			 2 University of Cambridge, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 32,732.69 88,879.78 83,701.06 205,313.53 11,400.00 
			 3 University of Cambridge, Whipple Museum of the History of Science 48,000.23 164,815.96 113,562.38 326,378.57 99,912.00 
			 4 Courtauld Gallery, London 50,000.14 75,000.00 75,000.00 200,000.14 100,000.00 
			 5 University of Manchester, Manchester Museum 50,004.00 47,071.17 113,068.00 210,143.17 50,000.00 
			 6 University of Manchester, Whitworth Art Gallery 44,690.00 115,000.00 122,000.00 281,690.00 86,500.00 
			 7 University of Oxford, Ashmolean Museum 60,000.00 100,291.93 102,329.26 262,621.19 154,800.00 
			 8 University of Oxford, Museum of the History of Science 150,000.00 58,000.00 0.00 208,000.00 0.00 
			 9 University of Oxford, Museum of Natural History 31,420.69 114,639.84 102,276.49 248,337.02 86,843.00 
			 10 University of Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum 59,484.00 122,885.97 129,972.00 312,341.97 149,716.00 
			 11 University of Reading, Rural History Centre 62,076.30 95,244.04 87,709.08 245,029.42 91,500.00 
			 12 Horniman Museum, London 96,295.78 99,812.00 63,500.00 259,607.78 157,000.00 
			 13 Museum of London 0.00 117,970.67 232,029.34 350,000.01 153,000.00 
			 14 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester 34,408.69 135,000.00 89,401.00 258,809.69 91,750.00 
			 15 Birmingham City Museums and Art Gallery 66,482.56 170,000.00 187,974.00 424,456.56 239,178.00 
			 16 Leeds Museums and Galleries 63,319.00 36,469.92 116,000.00 215,788.92 0.00 
			 17 Manchester City Art Galleries 60,112.00 31,843.42 84,220.44 176,175.86 92,810.00 
			 18 Stoke-on-Trent Museums Service 104,036.80 110,280.60 106,417.04 320,734.44 96,476.00 
			 19 Tyne and Wear Museums(32)  
			 20 York Museum Service 90,193.15 129,812.49 200,660.21 420,665.85 100,000.00 
			 21 Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum 30,000.00 0.00 770,000.00 800,000.00 500,000.00 
			 22 Bowes Museum 57,383.50 29,906.50 95,400.00 182,690.00 222,000.00 
			 23 Wiltshire Heritage Museum 35,000.00 45,815.17 20,423.37 101,238.54 0.00 
			 24 Dulwich Picture Gallery 52,000.00 80,000.00 59,687.79 191,687.79 52,723.00 
			 25 Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust 71,520.00 90,106.00 99,654.21 261,280.21 80,000.00 
			 26 Jewish Museum 62,960.00 73,989.76 76,171.00 213,120.76 97,533.00 
			 27 London Transport Museum 52,500.00 95,000.00 95,500.00 243,000.00 50,000.00 
			 28 Mary Rose Trust 77,658.00 120,000.00 137,770.20 335,428.20 100,000.00 
			 29 National Motor Museum 31,298.66 63,166.59 123,208.81 217,674.06 71,395.00 
			 30 National Tramway Museum 33,054.20 97,273.56 215,181.74 345,509.50 100,000.00 
			 31 Wordsworth Trust 66,149.07 86,080.00 86,882.00 239,111.07 67,400.00 
			 32 Museum of British Road Transport, Coventry 20,000.00 100,000.00 100,000.00 220,000.00 145,000.00 
			 33 Tank Museum, Bovington Camp 50,000.00 88,221.20 79,117.26 217,338.46 135,000.00 
			 34 Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museums 6,060.00 44,218.00 56,117.82 106,395.82 40,000.00 
			 35 Northampton Museums and Art Gallery 60,000.00 80,000.00 160,000.00 300,000.00 0.00 
			 36 Norfolk Museums Service 86,776.36 112,994.14 182,617.60 382,388.10 249,813.00 
			 37 Harewood House 78,197.63 99,225.00 177,097.00 354,519.63 196,000.00 
			 38 Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham 77,751.00 48,657.54 30,000.00 156,408.54 68,475.00 
			 39 University College London, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology 62,618.35 104,634.96 125,510.69 292,764.00 137,158.00 
			 40 Colchester Museums 42,188.82 85,080.00 57,960.00 185,228.82 48,000.00 
			 41 Exeter City Museums and Art Gallery 117,297.39 173,389.08 71,867.89 362,554.36 99,700.00 
			 42 Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum 26,034.56 114,460.00 64,000.00 204,494.56 27,760.00 
			 43 Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham 22,849.09 68,554.23 75,320.19 166,723.51 0.00 
			 44 National Museum of Labour History, Manchester 64,216.67 96,949.38 83,580.00 244,746.05 86,760.00 
			 45 University of Cambridge, Sedgwick Museum of Geology 50,731.55 148,479.21 178,029.79 377,240.55 178,000.00 
			 46 University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge 36,355.00 33,025.00 219,361.00 288,741.00 100,230.00 
			 47 Southampton City Council Cultural Services 43,928.00 39,528.44 62,031.20 145,487.64 50,000.00 
			 48 Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester 74,949.66 64,000.00 75,800.00 214,749.66 10,000.00 
			 49 Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery 46,331.52 59,925.25 69,278.40 175,535.17 50,000.00 
			 50 Royal Pavilion, Libraries and Museums 28,250.00 0.00 0.00 28,250.00 135,000.00 
			 51 Bristol Museums and Art Galleries 59,492.42 73,639.45 112,693.05 245,824.92 96,644.00 
			 52 National Waterways Museum 52,533.36 116,608.00 93,184.50 262,325.86 50,000.00 
			 53 The Wedgwood Museum Trust 0.00 42,880.88 61,250.00 104,130.88 5,000.00 
			 55 Roman Baths Museum and Museum of Costume, Bath 0.00 43,625.18 109,874.82 153,500.00 50,000.00 
			 56 Museum of Artillery in the Rotunda 0.00 101,250.00 91,589.20 192,839.20 0.00 
			 57 Sir John Soane's Museum 0.00 95,000.00 82,360.00 177,360.00 81,007.00 
			 58 Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art 0.00 83,393.21 32,882.31 116,275.52 0.00 
			 59 Kingston upon Hull City Museums and Art Galleries 0.00 67,871.48 58,855.12 126,726.60 0.00 
			 60 Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust 0.00 120,536.78 70,444.61 190,981.39 0.00 
			 61 Lancashire County Museums Service, Textile Industry Collection 0.00 32,693.85 122,210.28 154,904.13 80,000.00 
			 62 Museums of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 0.00 50,955.27 31,613.58 82,568.85 94,400.00 
			 Joint Manchester Project 25,000.00 — — 25,000.00 30,000.00 
			 Totals 2,858,534.28 5,080,764.42 6,671,191.21 14,610,489.91 5,445,908.00 
		
	
	(32)Joint project with Beamish—see number 21
	Note:
	Awards for 1999–2002 have now been spent. New awards made in July 2002 for the period 2002–04 total sum not yet claimed by grant recipients.

Museums

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has taken to maintain the quality of exhibitions in major museums funded by her Department since the removal of entry charges; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The day-to-day operation of Government-funded museums and galleries, including the staging of exhibitions, is a matter for the Boards of Trustees and management of such bodies. In October 2002, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced the provision of increased grant-in-aid to the national museums and galleries to enable them to continue the Government's highly successful policy of free admission.

National Football Centre

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will visit the National Football Centre development near Burton upon Trent to view the construction already in place.
	(2)  when she (a) last met and (b) next plans to meet the Football Association to discuss the development of the National Football Centre.

Richard Caborn: The Government appreciates that the present uncertainty about the completion of the National Football Centre has created some concern, both locally and among those with a general interest in the future success of the England team. However, this is entirely a matter for the Football Association. Neither I nor my right hon .Friend the Secretary of State have discussed the matter with the FA, and Ministers have no plans to visit the site. The Government's priority is the continued development of grass roots football, which my Department funds through the Football Foundation. The arrangements made for the coaching of elite players must remain the responsibility of football itself.

Public Bodies

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of her Department's non-departmental public bodies' (a) outputs, (b) efficiency, (c) access, (d) quality, (e) income generation and (f) private sector funding; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the targets for her Department's non-departmental public bodies' funding agreements announced since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: During the course of the 2002 Spending Review, the Department has looked at the performance of its sponsored bodies and at the effectiveness of funding agreements as a means of performance management. The conclusions from our assessment are positive, but we have plans for further improvements: the introduction of more streamlined funding agreements that will focus on delivery of our four strategic priorities; and the earmarking of resources in the 2003–06 period, specifically to help non-departmental public bodies improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Sport Representations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from and discussions she has had with (a) Sport England, (b) UK Sport, (c) Special Olympics Great Britain and (d) other organisations and individuals, regarding the allocation of funding for Special Olympics Great Britain from (i) Sport England and (ii) UK Sport.

Richard Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have received any such representations nor had any discussions with Sport England, UK Sport, Special Olympics Great Britain or other organisations and individuals regarding the allocation of specific funding for Special Olympics Great Britain from Sport England or UK Sport.
	I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 November 2002, Official Report, columns 81–82W.

Sport Scotland

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money Sport Scotland has received since 2000.

Richard Caborn: Sport in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

Street Advertisments

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulations protect hand—painted street advertising, what plans she has to improve the protection of hand-painted street advertising; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: there are no regulations specifically to protect hand-painted street advertising. It is possible that such advertising can be protected by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which requires the Secretary of State to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. An advertisement that has been painted on to a building would be protected if the building itself was listed.
	At the launch of the State of the Historic Environment Report on 25 November, we announced plans—in partnership with English Heritage—to improve and refocus the way the UK's built environment receives statutory protection. These will include a review of the current designation system, with a view to changing it to one that sustains the historic environment as a whole rather than relating in a piecemeal way to its constituent parts. This review will take around a year to report.

Sub-titling

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the producers of videos about the provision of sub-titles for the hard of hearing; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 2 December 2002
	My officials have been in contact with a number of organisations, primarily the Film Council and British Video Association, the BBC, ITV and the ITC and, via the Broadcasters Disability Network, ITFC Ltd, a company which produces sub-titling for both broadcasters and DVD production houses. We have been looking at the current availability of equipment and videos, and emphasising the importance which we attach to access for the hard of hearing. DVDs normally include sub-titles.

Worcester Cathedral

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what costs she estimates will be incurred by Worcester Cathedral under the proposals in the Licensing Bill.

Kim Howells: I have made no estimates of the costs that will be specifically incurred by Worcester Cathedral under the proposals in the Licensing Bill. Any costs would depend on the licensable activities, if any, which are undertaken at the Cathedral and their frequency.